NYC Shooter Bought Rifle and Car from Las Vegas Casino Supervisor 

According to investigators, the shooter, 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, who opened fire in a New York City office building on Monday and killed four people, and then himself, bought his weapon from his boss at a Las Vegas casino.

Gunman Bought Weapon from Las Vegas Casino Supervisor

Police reported on Wednesday that the semi-automatic rifle, a civilian version of the AR-15, also commonly referred to as the M4, was sold for $1,400 by a supervisor at the Horseshoe Casino. Tamura was part of the casino’s surveillance team at the venue. The supervisor, whose identity has not been disclosed, is cooperating with authorities and has not been charged. It remains unclear whether the transaction was legal.

Authorities also said the supervisor sold Tamura the BMW that the 27-year-old used to drive across the country before carrying out the attack. A revolver discovered in the vehicle was bought legally in a separate transaction in Nevada on June 12. Tamura had a permit to carry the revolver concealed, but not the rifle. In Nevada, adults over the age of 18 can purchase a firearm without a permit, but all sales must include a background check. Authorities have not confirmed whether a background check was conducted prior to the private sale of the rifle.

Authorities said New York City detectives remained in Las Vegas on Wednesday. They had a warrant to search Tamura’s locker at the Horseshoe Casino and were waiting on additional warrants to access his phone and laptop. Officials also stated that investigators planned to interview his parents. Interestingly, Tamura had already been detained once for trespassing in a Las Vegas casino back in 2023, the investigation has so far revealed.

What Happened During the Terrible Event?

Tamura shot and killed three people in the lobby of 345 Park Ave., home to the NFL’s headquarters, before taking an elevator to the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot another person and then took his own life. A note found in his wallet claimed he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition, and accused the NFL of concealing the risks of brain injuries associated with contact sports. According to police, the note also included an apology to his supervisor at the Horseshoe Casino.

Tamura had a documented history of mental illness. During a search of his Las Vegas apartment, New York investigators found anti-psychotic, anti-epileptic, and anti-inflammatory medications, a suicide note addressed to his mother, 100 revolver rounds, and a single rifle round.