Manhattan Shooter Diagnosed with CTE After NFL HQ Attack

Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old former high school football player, was diagnosed posthumously with low-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following a mass shooting in Manhattan targeting NFL headquarters, though he mistakenly attacked a different office floor. Tamura believed he had CTE due to repeated head injuries sustained during his youth football career, and left a note blaming the NFL for concealing the risks of brain trauma to protect profits. CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head impacts, common among athletes and military personnel, which affects behavior and emotional regulation, but can only be definitively diagnosed after death. Experts emphasize that while CTE may influence behavior, it is not solely responsible for violent acts, as many diagnosed individuals do not engage in such harm. The NFL has acknowledged the connection between football-related head injuries and CTE since 2016 and has implemented measures to reduce head trauma risks. This tragic case highlights the ongoing challenges in diagnosing CTE in living individuals and the urgent need for increased awareness and prevention efforts.