Fri Sep 26 17:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**CTE Found in Midtown Shooter’s Brain; Questions Raised About NFL’s Role**

**Updated:** September 26, 2025 / 1:56 PM EDT / CBS New York

**NEW YORK** – Shane Tamura, the 27-year-old gunman responsible for the July 28th shooting in Midtown Manhattan that claimed the lives of four individuals, suffered from low-stage Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), according to a report released Friday by New York’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

The OCME’s statement confirmed, “unambiguous diagnostic evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy…in the brain tissue of the decedent. The findings correspond with the classification of low-stage CTE, according to current consensus criteria.”

Tamura, a former high school football player, killed Aland Etienne, Wesley LePatner, Julia Hyman, and NYPD Det. Didraul Islam before taking his own life. Handwritten notes left by Tamura referenced CTE and his desire for his brain to be studied. “Study my brain please. I’m sorry,” one note read. He also accused the NFL of knowingly concealing the dangers of head injuries to maximize profits and appeared to have been targeting NFL offices in the building where the shooting occurred.

While Tamura never played professional football, his diagnosis raises further questions about the long-term effects of head injuries sustained even at the high school level. Dr. Anne McKee, director of the CTE Center at Boston University, noted that studies have found CTE in a significant percentage of former high school football players.

CTE expert Chris Nowinski cautioned against directly linking the CTE diagnosis to the shooting. “Whatever’s in his brain is never going to be the reason for what happened. Human behavior is far too complex for that,” he said. However, both Nowinski and Dr. McKee emphasized that CTE can lead to behavioral changes like irritability, impulsivity, and aggression.

The NFL, which released a message of support for the victims’ families after the shooting, has not yet commented directly on Tamura’s CTE diagnosis or his accusations. The league has implemented rule changes and explored protective equipment, like Guardian Caps, to mitigate head injuries. However, Dr. McKee believes more needs to be done, emphasizing the need to address “rules of play and styles of play, eliminating the hits to the head that occur in practice as well as games.”

The findings in Tamura’s case serve as a grim reminder of the growing concern surrounding CTE and the need for continued research and preventative measures, particularly at the youth sports level. The NFL acknowledges CTE and has taken steps to prevent it but many advocate for stronger actions to protect players at all levels of the sport.

**Summary:**
Shane Tamura, the gunman in the Midtown Manhattan shooting, had low-stage CTE. He left notes blaming the NFL for concealing the dangers of head injuries. CTE is a brain disease common in athletes who play contact sports and is caused by repeated head injuries. Experts caution against linking CTE directly to the shooting but acknowledge its potential for behavioral changes. The NFL has implemented some rule changes and equipment to protect players, but some experts believe more needs to be done.

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