By Southern California News Group’s Haley Sawyer, Sierra Van der Brug, and Scott Schwebke
Before moving to Las Vegas, the guy who shot and killed four people at a New York City office tower Monday—including an off-duty police officer—and injured a fifth before killing himself was a stellar football player in high school in Southern California.
According to police, the gunman killed himself and was identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that despite his documented history of mental health issues, the motive remains unknown.
Before moving to and playing football at Granada Hills Charter High School in the San Fernando Valley, Tamura spent ten years in Southern California at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita.
According to high school sports website Maxpreps.com, Tamura was a running back in high school and carried the ball 139 times for 774 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014 as a junior at Golden Valley. Tamura’s coach that season, Dan Kelley, chose not to comment.
For his senior year in 2015, he switched to Granada Hills Charter High School in the CIF Los Angeles City Section, where he ran 126 carries for 616 yards and five touchdowns. On 25 catches, he added two touchdowns and 229 more receiving yards.
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The Los Angeles Daily News interviewed tailback Tamura, who scored the game-winning touchdown in Granada Hills’ victory over Kennedy High School on September 18, 2015.
Jack Pollon, a former freelance sports journalist for the L.A. Daily News, said Tamura was a solid, little high school player who was quick and elusive. Tamura didn’t appear to have NFL-caliber talent, he continued.
In an SMS to the Southern California News Group, Pollon stated, “He seemed to want to do well and be a football guy. He helped his team that year.”
Tamura did not have an NCAA recruiting profile on 247sports.com or the NCSA College Recruiting website, despite having success in high school. Both websites are usually used by student-athletes to showcase their information and self-evaluations.
Southern California News Group’s requests for comment were not answered by Golden Valley High School, the William S. Hart District, which Golden Valley is a part of, the CIF Southern Section, or the CIF L.A. City Section.
The statement from Granada Hills Charter High School reads:
The sad incident in Manhattan involving a former student who attended during the 2015 Fall Semester and has no affiliation with the school since his withdrawal 10 years ago is known to Granada Hills Charter (GHC). We are unable to disclose more academic or personal data since student records are protected under FERPA.
The violence in New York disgusts us. We offer the victims, their families, and the impacted towns our sincerest condolences; it is tragic. We are leaving all more information to the NYPD and federal authorities as this is still an ongoing investigation.
Granada Hills Charter is working with law enforcement and will not be disclosing any more details, the statement continued.
The scene on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street, near 345 Park Avenue where a New York Police Department police officer was shot, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A New York police officer directs bystanders and members of the media outside a Manhattan office building where two people were shot, including a police officer, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A New York police investigator exits her vehicle at the scene outside a Manhattan office building where two people were shot including a police officer, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Police work at the scene on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street, near a Manhattan office building after a shooting, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Pedestrians walk by police tape on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street, near a Manhattan office building after a shooting, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York State Police troopers gather on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building where two people were shot, including a New York police officer, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A New York Police officer stands watch at the scene on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building where two people were shot, including a New York police officer, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York Police officers react as they gather outside New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell Medical Center where a police officer was brought after being shot at a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
The residence of Shane Tamura, identified as the gunman in the fatal shooting at a Manhattan office building in New York City and who was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound is seen on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Photo/Ty O Neil)
The residence of Shane Tamura, identified as the gunman in the fatal shooting at a Manhattan office building in New York City and who was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound is seen on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Photo/Ty O Neil)
New York Mayor Eric Adams arrives at New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell Medical Center where a police officer was brought after being shot at a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York police and city officials depart after a news conference at New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell Medical Center where a police officer was brought after being shot at a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
This image shows New York Police officer Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed at a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (New York Police Department via AP)
Family and friends of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman Monday evening, watch his dignified transfer out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Family and friends of slain officer Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, leave the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital, eraly Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
The ambulance carrying the body of Didarul Islam exits NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital during the dignified transfer of the slain officer, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stands during the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
NYPD officers stand in line during the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Friends of Didarul Islam, the officer who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, embrace after Islam s dignified transfer out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
NYPD officers embrace after the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Family and friends of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman Monday evening, watch his dignified transfer out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner s office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A police officer stands by a make shift memorial outside scene of Monday s deadly shooting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)
A police officer stands by a make shift memorial outside scene of Monday s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A general view shows 345 Park Ave, a scene of Monday s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
People walk past the scene of Monday s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Members of the NYPD Crime Unit examine a door with bullet holes at the scene of the previous day s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A person leaves flowers at a make shift memorial outside scene of Monday s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Members of NYPD Crime Unit examine a door with bullet holes at the scene of Monday s deadly shooting, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Imam Muhammad Mainul Islam knocks on the door of the home of New York City police officer Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman Monday at a Manhattan office building, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in the Bronx borough of New York.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
During his final year at Granada Hills, Walter Roby coached Tamura’s running backs and remembered him as an athletic back.
In a phone conversation, Roby told SCNG that he was quite elusive. Excellent, change-of-direction, stop-on-a-dime runners. It wasn’t burley, where he would have bowled you over, but it was really rapid, with quick hits and such. At the time, he was undoubtedly one of our best runners.
incredibly modest. Although he was aware of his athletic prowess, he chose not to brag about it. He was the kind of quiet boss you want. incredibly coachable.
Roby could not remember any significant blows to Tamura’s head, but he did remember him getting hurt on the ankle. Athletic trainers are available to identify any indications of damage, and Granada Hills Charter, like many other high schools, has procedures in place to safeguard players from head injuries like concussions.
Roby remarked, “I’m more shocked than anything else.” And since the victims and their families had no prior knowledge of this individual, they are deeply sorry for them. I’m at that point, and like everyone else, I’m simply trying to comprehend it, cope with it, and move on.
According to records, Tamura was licensed as a California security guard from 2019 to 2021 after graduating from high school.
When Tamura left Southern California and relocated to Las Vegas was not immediately apparent.
Caleb Clarke, a former teammate from high school, told NBC News that Tamura disclosed that he had been employed at a Las Vegas casino.
According to investigators, Tamura had a history of mental illness and never played in the NFL. He claimed to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a three-page handwritten note that was discovered in his wallet. He also accused the NFL of hiding the risks to players’ brains in order to make money.
Although it can only be identified after a person has passed away, the degenerative brain illness has been connected to repetitive head trauma, including concussions, which are common in contact sports like football.
According to the police department, Tamura apologized several times in the note and requested that his brain be examined for CTE. It also mentioned Terry Long, a former NFL player who was diagnosed with CTE, and how he committed suicide in 2005.
The Associated Press, Nathaniel Percy, and Andrea Klick contributed to this report.
