Shane Tamura’s former high school football teammate mentioned that the Park Avenue Killer has drastically changed since their high school days together.
“Nine years ago, he was a different person,” said the 28-year-old, who requested anonymity and noted he hadn’t spoken to Tamura since their school days. Tamura attempted to target the NFL headquarters in Manhattan, even though he never played in the league.
“None of us, including my teammates, see the Shane from the headlines,” he added. Although he acknowledged Tamura’s dedication to football, he also remarked on the stark contrast between the athlete he remembered and the person in the news.
Walter Robbie, age 60, who coached Tamura during his junior year at Granada Hills Charter High School, described him as a “talented” athlete, expressing disbelief over the recent violent acts. “He was one of the best running backs I’ve coached,” he said.
Robbie recalled Tamura as quiet and humble, often letting his performance on the field speak for itself. “It’s truly heartbreaking to see someone I coached end up doing something so horrific,” he added, struggling to understand the transformation.
Tamura’s violent outburst occurred on July 28, when he entered 345 Park Avenue armed with an AR-style rifle, taking the lives of three office workers and an NYPD officer. He ultimately took his own life as well.
In the aftermath, police discovered a three-page note in Tamura’s wallet, where he mentioned having chronic traumatic encephalopathy and requested that his brain be studied posthumously. Along with that, he apologized to someone named Rick for connections made between him and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish.
Details of the Incident
- The incident began around 6:28 PM at 345 Park Ave.
- Shane Tamura exited a black BMW between 51st and 52nd Avenue with an M4 rifle.
- He entered the lobby and shot officer Didalle Islam, age 36.
- Tamura then shot a woman in the lobby and continued toward the elevators.
- Another man was shot and critically wounded in the chaos.
- Remarkably, he let one woman escape unharmed before heading to the 33rd floor.
- There, he shot and killed another man before taking his own life.
- The ordeal lasted for a yet undisclosed period. Police Chief Jessica Tish confirmed the situation was under control later that evening.
Authorities are questioning Rick, who sold Tamura the lower receiver of the weapon used during the attack. Investigators are still trying to understand Tamura’s motives, as he reportedly dealt with mental health issues in 2022 and 2024, even expressing suicidal thoughts to the police.
Police also discovered a prescription migraine medication in Tamura’s BMW, suggesting further complexities to his mental state.
His former teammate reflected on the changes in Tamura, admitting he never noticed any signs of mental illness. “People can change in ways that are hard to track,” he mused, emphasizing how life’s complexities can alter individuals significantly.
Though Tamura played high school football, he held the NFL responsible for a presumed degenerative brain condition.
Robbie remarked that while he could remember an ankle injury, he was uncertain if Tamura had sustained enough injuries to suffer from CTE. “Did he have the potential to play at the college level? Absolutely. The NFL, though? That’s another story entirely—very few make it there,” he concluded.
