Multiple people killed, including NYPD officer, in Manhattan skyscraper shooting

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – Five people were shot, four fatally – including an off-duty NYPD officer – when a man carrying a long gun opened fire in a Manhattan skyscraper in Midtown Monday evening, officials said.

Police said the suspect, identified as Shane Tamura, of Nevada, shot and killed himself.

“We are still unraveling what took place,” said Adams. “Five innocent people were shot tonight. We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the NYPD, Officer Didarul Islam of the 47th precinct. He was only 36 years old and a 3 and a half year veteran of the department.”

Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials confirmed Monday evening that the fifth victim was in critical condition at an area hospital.

The shooting took place in the lobby of Blackstone, the building that houses some of the country’s top financial firms and the National Football League, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

“At around 6:28 p.m., the 911 call center started receiving reports of an active shooter inside 345 Park Avenue,” said NYPD Commissioner Jennifer Tisch.

Tisch said that surveillance footage showed the suspect stepping out of a black BMW parked in front of the building, an M4 rifle in his right hand.

“The building security camera footage shows the shooter entering the lobby, turning right, and immediately opening fire at an NYPD officer,” Tisch said. “He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar. He makes his way to the elevator bank, where he shoots a security guard who was taking cover behind the security desk. One additional male was shot in the lobby, per his own statement.”

Tisch said the video shows him allow a female to walk out of the elevator unharmed before he steps in.

“He goes up to the 33rd floor and begins to walk the floor, firing rounds as he travels. One person was struck and killed on that floor,” Tisch added. “He proceeds down the hallway and shoots himself in the chest.”

Tisch says police searched the vehicle and found a rifle case with rounds, a revolver, and ammunition. “The vehicle traveled cross country through Colorado on July 26, Nebraska and Iowa on July 27, and Columbus, New Jersey, at 4:24 p.m. today.”

NYPD officials said Monday night they believe the gunman acted alone, but any motive remained unclear. Tisch added that law enforcement partners in Las Vegas told the NYPD that he has a documented mental health history.

The building was evacuated around 7 p.m.; footage from the scene showed people dressed in business attire walking out of the building with their arms raised above their heads.

Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running.

“It was like a crowd panic,” said Anna Smith, who joined the workers pouring back into the finance office building. They remained there for about two hours before being told they could leave.

One individual was taken to a local hospital in cardiac arrest, an EMS source told WPIX.

This is a developing story; the Associated Press contributed to this report.