NYC Midtown shooter Shane Tamura had 2 ‘unresolved’ background checks in Nevada prior to deadly rampage: report
The recent tragic shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office tower has brought to light concerning issues with the background check system in Nevada. The shooter, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, had two outstanding “unresolved” background checks that were never settled by the Nevada Point of Contact Firearms Program.
Tamura’s rampage on July 28 resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a Blackstone executive, an NYPD officer, a security guard, and a 27-year-old Cornell graduate. The weapon he used in the attack was purchased from his boss at the Horseshoe Las Vegas casino, with the sale completed under the supervision of a gun store in October 2024.
The Nevada Point of Contact Firearms Program had flagged Tamura’s background checks as “unresolved” in both March 2022 and October 2024. This designation falls into a gray area between approval and denial, allowing for the transfer of the firearm after three days at the discretion of the license holder.
Despite Tamura’s history of mental health issues, including suicidal ideation and psychiatric holds, the program failed to reach a decision within the required 90-day research period for both checks. This loophole in the system allowed Tamura to obtain the weapon used in the deadly shooting.
It is concerning to note that the background check records obtained by investigators only included a trespassing arrest from 2023, with no mention of Tamura’s prior mental health incidents. This oversight highlights the need for a more thorough and comprehensive background check process to prevent individuals with a history of mental health issues from obtaining firearms.
According to department data, roughly 3% of all background checks are marked as “unresolved,” indicating a significant number of cases where a final decision is not reached within the specified timeframe. This loophole in the system poses a serious risk to public safety and underscores the importance of addressing and resolving background checks in a timely manner.
Tamura’s apparent targeting of the NFL headquarters housed in the Midtown tower, as indicated by a note found in his pocket, raises further concerns about his motives and mental state. The Nevada State Police Records, Communications, and Compliance Division, which oversees the Point of Contact Firearms Program, must address these issues and ensure that background checks are conducted thoroughly and efficiently to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
