The New York City medical examiner has confirmed that Shane Tamura, who killed four people and himself in a Manhattan office building in July, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The 27-year-old, who played high school football in California, left a note requesting his brain be studied for the disease, suspecting a link between his mental health and football.
The medical examiner found “unambiguous diagnostic evidence” of low-stage CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. CTE is commonly associated with professional athletes, particularly NFL players, but has also been found in student athletes. Tamura never played in the NFL, but authorities said he targeted the building housing the NFL headquarters.
Tamura’s note expressed anger at the NFL for “concealing the dangers to players’ brains to maximize profits” and stated, “Study my brain please. I’m sorry.” His family previously said he suffered from migraines, mental illness, and multiple concussions. The medical examiner noted that the science around CTE continues to evolve, and its physical and mental manifestations remain under study.
