New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday that law enforcement believed that the gunman who shot and killed four people and injured another on Monday at a New York City office building might have been targeting the National Football League.
Adams said that investigators “have reason to believe” that the gunman who attacked the 345 Park Avenue office tower in Manhattan was “focused on the NFL.” The NFL is headquartered in the building, and one of its employees was wounded during the incident.
Adams said that the shooter had attempted to go to the floor where the NFL was located, but instead went to the 33rd floor, where Rudin, a property management company, is based.
A three-page note was found in the wallet of the gunman, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, claiming that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a degenerative brain condition often associated with football players caused by frequent head trauma.
The Daily Wire is not publishing the gunman’s name due to a company policy against contributing to the unintentional glorification of mass shooters.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a Monday press conference that the shooter, who played high school football, had a history of mental health issues.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the gunman wrote in a note, according to the New York Post. Long was a former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers who committed suicide by drinking antifreeze after a history of brain injuries.
“You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you,” the gunman reportedly wrote, adding, “Study my brain please I’m sorry Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.”
Alluding to the note, Adams said that “it appears as though he was going after the employees of the NFL.”
“We’re still going through the suicide note to zero in on the exact reason but at this time it appears as if it’s something attached to his belief he experienced CTE from the NFL,” he added.
The NFL employee who was injured during the attack is currently in the hospital, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
“As has been widely reported, a gunman committed an unspeakable act of violence in our building at 345 Park Avenue. One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack,” Goodell said. “He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition. NFL staff are at the hospital and we are supporting his family.
Two other victims killed in the attack have been identified as 36-year-old NYPD officer Didarul Islam and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he had been briefed on the shooting and offered his condolences.
“I have been briefed on the tragic shooting that took place in Manhattan, a place that I know and love,” he posted on Truth Social. “I trust our Law Enforcement Agencies to get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence. My heart is with the families of the four people who were killed, including the NYPD Officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless the New York Police Department, and God Bless New York!”