Shane Devon Tamura, 27, was the gunman responsible for the fatal shooting at the NFL headquarters in New York City on Monday, law enforcement said. Tamura took his own life after the rampage, killing four people, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam, and injuring a fifth, officials said.
Suicide Note Refers to CTE and NFL
As CNN reported, a suicide note was discovered in Tamura’s back pocket. The note, according to the report, reportedly read that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and attributed it to his football career. The report indicated that Tamura stated the illness made him consume a gallon of antifreeze.
“Football gave me CTE and it made me drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the note said, according to CNN. It also contained the sobering message, “You can’t go up against the NFL, they’ll crush you.”
Tamura was also an early competitive football player in life, something that perhaps predisposed him to believing that he had CTE. The progressive brain disease is most prevalent among those who have endured repeated head trauma, something that’s standard in contact sports such as football.
Understanding CTE
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressively more acknowledged brain disease brought about by repeated blows to the head and concussions. Symptoms in individuals who are still alive can be mood disorders, as well as impairment of intellect. Diagnosis can only be confirmed after death by using the analysis of brain tissues.
Mental Health History and Continued Inquiry
Tamura had a ‘documented mental health history’, as confirmed by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch Authorities continue to investigate his motive for the deadly shooting.
