Category: New York

Former NY Official Promises to Cleanse State of CCP Influence
NEW YORK — Former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, a Republican considering a run for governor, has pledged to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in New York State if elected. Speaking at a rally in Flushing on August 10, hosted by the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, McCaughey decried the CCP’s “illegal, secret, and violent” activities in the United States, emphasizing the need to protect Chinese immigrants who have distanced themselves from the Party.
The event celebrated a milestone of over 450 million Chinese individuals worldwide renouncing ties with the CCP and its affiliated organizations, part of the global “Tuidang” or “Quit the CCP” movement. Inspired by The Epoch Times’ 2004 editorial series “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” the movement seeks to expose the CCP’s history and alleged human rights abuses, topics considered taboo in China. The New York-based nonprofit operates booths in the city, staffed by Falun Gong practitioners, to assist Chinese individuals in formally withdrawing from the CCP.
McCaughey, founder of Reduce Infection Deaths and co-founder of SaveNYC, described the Tuidang movement as “inspiring” during her speech. “It shows that the human spirit can never be conquered. It proves that truth, once spoken, lives on forever,” she said. “This is not about politics. It is about humanity. It is deep within our core as humans to want freedom.” She condemned the CCP’s intimidation of Chinese immigrants in the U.S., stating, “The penetration of the CCP—its illegal, secret, and violent ways inside the United States—must be stopped. They intimidate, they injure, they threaten Chinese people here who have left the Party; that must stop,” in an interview.
The rally highlighted the persecution faced by Falun Gong practitioners, a spiritual group based on principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, who have been targeted by the CCP since 1999. According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, millions of practitioners have faced detention, torture, and death in Chinese prisons and labor camps. In New York, the Global Service Center’s efforts have met with hostility, including an attack on a booth near Flushing’s Main Street subway station in April, following threats such as bomb attacks and shootings aimed at Falun Gong supporters.
Another speaker, Michael Pastine, assistant vice president and chief information officer at the State University of New York at Old Westbury, criticized the CCP’s censorship and control over information. “Each one of them has broken through the wall of lies. Each one is a digital and spiritual defector—walking away from a system that values power over people, and control over conscience,” Pastine said of those renouncing the CCP. He also praised the millions worldwide who have signed the center’s “End CCP” petition, calling the signatures “data points in a moral movement that technology cannot suppress.”
Michael Pastine speaks at an event held by the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP in Queens, New York, on Aug. 10, 2025. © Huang Xiaotang/The Epoch Times
McCaughey emphasized solidarity with those rejecting the CCP, stating, “Together, we can build a future where the truth is not censored, where faith is not punished, and where the horrors of communism are never repeated.” Her remarks align with her broader campaign platform, which includes addressing local issues like public safety and economic recovery while taking a firm stance against foreign influence.
As New York’s gubernatorial race approaches, McCaughey’s focus on CCP influence underscores growing concerns about foreign interference in local communities. Her pledge to protect Chinese immigrants and curb alleged CCP activities could resonate with voters wary of global political dynamics affecting the state.
August 15, 2025
New York Factories Shed Nearly Half Their Jobs Since 2000
NEW YORK — Manufacturing employment in New York State has plummeted by 45 percent since 2000, marking the steepest decline in the nation, according to a new analysis by software services firm ETQ. The report, which draws on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reveals that the Empire State lost 330,794 manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2024, reflecting broader national and global economic shifts.
The 44.6 percent drop in New York’s manufacturing payroll surpasses declines in other states, with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont each reporting a 40 percent reduction in manufacturing jobs over the same period. Nationally, the United States has shed more than 4.5 million manufacturing jobs, with significant losses in sectors like computer and electronic manufacturing (-786,000 jobs), printing and related support activities (-452,000), apparel manufacturing (-421,000), and machinery manufacturing (-350,000).
The report attributes much of this decline, particularly between 2000 and 2010, to the “China Shock” following China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. This event expanded China’s access to global markets, boosting its exports and attracting foreign investment, which disrupted manufacturing sectors in the United States and Europe. “The transformation of global supply chains, driven by a significant surge in Chinese exports, decimated manufacturing employment levels,” the ETQ analysis, shared with NYB, noted.
Despite the sharp decline in jobs, New York’s manufacturing output has grown by 4.7 percent since 2000, part of a national surge in manufacturing GDP exceeding 45 percent. This growth, however, has not translated into job creation. “As a result, many states have expanded their manufacturing economies without a corresponding increase in jobs—reflecting a broader shift toward capital-intensive, technology-driven production,” the report stated. Investments in automation, software, and advanced manufacturing processes have boosted productivity but reduced the need for manual labor. Nationally, manufacturing’s share of GDP has fallen from 13 percent in 2005 to below 10 percent in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
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Recent economic policies aim to reverse these trends. President Donald Trump’s agenda focuses on reshaping international trade to bolster U.S. manufacturing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on August 7, predicted that tariffs would strengthen American manufacturing over the next few years, citing “trillions and trillions” in planned investments. Companies like Apple AAPL +2.15% ▲, which recently increased its U.S. investment commitment by $100 billion to a total of $600 billion over four years, and Nvidia NVDA +3.80% ▲, pledging $500 billion, are part of a wave of corporate investments in domestic manufacturing. Other firms, including Eli Lilly LLY +1.95% ▲, Johnson & Johnson JNJ +1.40% ▲, GE GE +2.60% ▲, and Philips PHG +1.75% ▲, have also committed billions to build or modernize U.S. facilities.

Charlie Ashley, a portfolio manager at Catalyst Funds, emphasized the trade-offs of reshoring manufacturing. “Trump’s goal is to reshore manufacturing to create jobs and use that job creation and domestic production as a tool for economic growth,” Ashley told The Epoch Times. However, he cautioned that higher tariffs or labor costs could create “additional cost pressures” for corporations, and “reshoring won’t happen overnight.”
Recent data paint a mixed picture of U.S. manufacturing. The Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reported a fifth consecutive month of contraction in July, while the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI also slipped into contraction for the first time since December. Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that the downturn partly reflects reduced tariff-related inventory accumulation. Optimism for the year ahead has waned amid fears of declining demand and rising prices.
Regionally, manufacturing activity varies. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index posted a positive reading in July, driven by rising new orders, shipments, and employment. Conversely, the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index contracted for the fifth straight month, hitting a 10-month low with declines in new orders and shipments.
New York’s manufacturing sector, while still a significant economic driver, faces challenges in regaining its former employment levels. As automation and global competition reshape the industry, the state’s experience underscores a broader national trend: robust output growth alongside persistent job losses. Whether new investments and trade policies can reverse this decline remains a critical question for the future.
August 14, 2025
West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquitoes in Greenwood Lake Area
Health officials in Orange County have issued a warning after detecting West Nile Virus (WNV) in local mosquitoes, urging residents to take precautions as the peak of mosquito season continues. The virus, which can cause severe illness in rare cases, was found in a mosquito pool near Greenwood Lake on August 6, marking the latest instance of its presence in the area.
The Orange County Health Department announced the detection as part of its routine mosquito surveillance program. While no human or animal cases have been reported in the county this year, the finding serves as a reminder of the virus’s ongoing threat in the region. “We still have a long mosquito season ahead of us,” said Acting Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Roman in a statement. “Residents should always try to protect themselves but especially now that West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes have been detected in the County.”
WNV, first introduced to New York and North America in 1999, has since become endemic in the state, spreading rapidly across the continent. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans and other mammals through the bites of infected mosquitoes, which contract it by feeding on infected birds. According to public health data, Orange County has recorded WNV in mosquitoes in recent years, including 2021, 2022, 2023, and now 2024. Dr. Roman noted that the Greenwood Lake area has seen previous detections, making this latest find unsurprising but still concerning.
Most people infected with WNV—estimated at 70% to 80%—experience no symptoms at all. For the remaining 20%, symptoms are typically mild and include fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, skin rashes, or swollen lymph glands, appearing three to 14 days after a bite and lasting just a few days. However, in severe cases, the virus can lead to encephalitis or meningitis, causing life-threatening complications such as seizures, paralysis, or coma. Death is possible, though rare.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,791 cases of WNV in the United States in 2024, with 164 fatalities. Experts believe these figures underrepresent the true scale of infections, as many mild cases go unreported or undiagnosed. In Orange County, the last confirmed human case dates back to 2009, but Dr. Roman told The Epoch Times that unreported infections have likely occurred since then.
Unlike many counties that do not routinely monitor for the virus, Orange County maintains an active surveillance program to track mosquito populations and detect pathogens early. This proactive approach allows for timely public alerts and helps mitigate risks.
To prevent bites and reduce mosquito breeding grounds, health officials recommend several steps. “Residents should wear appropriate clothing, consider sprays when outdoors, and check their property for any pooling or stagnant water,” Dr. Roman advised. “If found, it should be removed as soon as possible.” Additional tips from the health department include using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus; wearing long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; and ensuring window and door screens are intact.
As climate patterns shift and mosquito habitats expand, experts warn that WNV and similar vector-borne diseases may become more prevalent. For now, Orange County residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any unusual standing water to local authorities.
For more information on WNV and prevention, visit the Orange County Health Department website or the CDC’s resources on mosquito-borne illnesses.
August 13, 2025
3 September 11th attacks Victim Identified After Nearly 24 Years
Three 9/11 Victims Identified Nearly 24 Years Later. © Richard Drew/AP/TT
NEW YORK — Nearly 24 years after the devastating September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, New York City’s medical examiner’s office has identified the remains of three more victims, offering closure to their families through advancements in DNA technology. The announcement, made on Thursday, marks another step in the ongoing effort to return the remains of those lost in the tragedy to their loved ones.
The identified individuals are Ryan D. Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old currency trader; Barbara A. Keating, a 72-year-old retired nonprofit executive; and a third woman whose identity was withheld at her family’s request. All three were among the nearly 3,000 people killed when al-Qaida hijackers crashed jetliners into the World Trade Center’s twin towers, the Pentagon, and a field in southwest Pennsylvania. Their names have long been etched on the National Sept. 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, but until now, their families had no confirmed remains to connect to their memory.
The identifications were made possible through advanced DNA testing of minute bone fragments recovered from the World Trade Center debris over two decades ago. The city’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner has been tirelessly analyzing tens of thousands of such fragments, retesting them as DNA techniques improve to overcome challenges posed by fire, sunlight, and bacterial degradation. “Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham in a statement. “We continue this work as our way of honoring the lost.”
Barbara Keating was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, a Boston-to-Los Angeles flight that hijackers crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The 72-year-old was returning to her home in Palm Springs, California, after spending the summer on Cape Cod. A career social worker, Keating had served as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Middlesex near Boston and remained active in her Roman Catholic church in retirement. Her son, Paul Keating, expressed awe at the medical examiner’s dedication. “It’s just an amazing feat, gesture,” he told the New York Post. He revealed that genetic material from his mother’s hairbrush was matched to DNA samples from relatives, with a fragment of her ATM card being the only other trace of her recovered from the rubble.
Ryan Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old Manhattan resident, was working at a financial firm in the World Trade Center while pursuing a master’s degree in business. Described in obituaries as a driven young man planning a future with his girlfriend, Fitzgerald’s remains were identified through the same meticulous process. Efforts to reach his family for comment were unsuccessful as of Friday.
The third victim’s identity remains private, respecting her family’s wishes, but her inclusion in this announcement underscores the scale of the identification effort. Of the more than 2,700 victims who perished at the World Trade Center, approximately 40% still have no identified remains, leaving many families waiting for answers.
The medical examiner’s office has made steady progress, with identifications added as recently as last year. The process involves not only cutting-edge science but also extraordinary commitment. “We’re talking about people putting in overtime 24 years later, for us,” Paul Keating said, highlighting the emotional weight of the work for families. New York Mayor Eric Adams praised the effort, stating, “We hope the families receiving answers from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner can take solace in the city’s tireless dedication to this mission.”
As technology continues to evolve, the medical examiner’s office remains committed to testing and retesting fragments, ensuring that more families may one day find closure. For now, these three identifications offer a bittersweet moment of connection for those who have waited nearly a quarter-century to lay their loved ones to rest.
August 8, 2025
The mayor states the New York City shooter blamed and targeted the NFL
Jessica Tisch, the New York police commissioner, said investigators were still trying to determine why the gunman opened fire. © Vincent Alban/The New York Times
The NFL was targeted in Monday’s attack by a gunman at the Manhattan building at which the league’s offices are located, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said in broadcast interviews Tuesday.
An NFL employee was “seriously injured” in Monday’s attack, Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a memo overnight.
“As has been widely reported, a gunman committed an unspeakable act of violence in our building at 345 Park Avenue,” Goodell wrote in the memo to league employees, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. “One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack. He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition.”
Adams said that the shooter, identified by authorities as 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, was targeting the NFL.
“From our preliminary investigation, he took the wrong elevator bank up to the NFL headquarters,” Adams told CBS. “Instead, it took him to Rudin Management. And that is where he carried out additional shootings and took the lives of additional employees.”
Adams said the shooter, who played high school football but did not play in college or in the NFL, wrote in a note that he believed he had the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
“He did have a note on him,” Adams said. “The note alluded to that he felt he had CTE, a known brain injury for those who participate in contact sports. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury.”
CTE can only be diagnosed definitively after death.
The league did not immediately release the identity of its injured employee. NFL staff members were at the hospital to support the employee’s family, according to Goodell.
“We believe that all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for, and the building has nearly been cleared,” Goodell wrote.
Four people were killed, including a New York City police officer, and one seriously injured when the gunman opened fire Monday evening inside the high-rise office building in Midtown Manhattan.
The gunman then fatally shot himself in the chest, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said at a news conference Monday night.
Goodell wrote that the NFL is “deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded to this threat quickly and decisively and to Officer [Didarul] Islam, who gave his life to protect others.”
Those working in the NFL’s New York office should work remotely from home Tuesday, Goodell wrote, adding that it is “understandable if you prefer to take the day off.” He also wrote that there “will be an increased security presence at 345 Park Avenue in the days and weeks to come.”
Goodell told employees that there are grief counselors and other “significant resources” available to them.
“Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family,” Goodell wrote. “We will get through this together.”
Several NFL employees said they had left the building shortly before the shooter entered just before 6:30 p.m. Monday. One employee who had left about 10 minutes earlier said it is “hard to imagine something like this no matter how many times you read about” similar incidents.
Based on previous visits to the NFL offices, the building at 345 Park Avenue is set back from the street, with a large area in front that includes seating and often draws lunchtime crowds. The lobby has entrances from multiple sides. There is a security desk, generally with multiple security staffers seated there, at which any visitors must stop and be approved to enter. The elevators are located behind or to the left of the security desk, depending upon which entrance is utilized.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred yesterday in New York City,” the NFL Players Association, which is based in Washington, said in a written statement Tuesday. “345 Park Avenue is a part of our football family, and we at the NFLPA extend our sincere condolences and support to the people who work in this building and to the families of those who lost their lives. We also want to express our deep gratitude to the law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to those impacted.”
July 29, 2025
NYC mass shooter Shane Tamura had a note blaming the NFL for his CTE, despite never playing professional football
The crazed gunman who killed an NYPD officer and three other people in a Midtown skyscraper on Monday evening was carrying a note in his pocket that expressed grievances with the NFL and claimed he suffered from CTE – a brain injury linked to head trauma, sources told The Post.
Shane Tamura, 27, cited the NFL in the writings, which were found after he fatally shot himself in the chest on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Ave. – a swanky skyscraper that houses the football league’s headquarters.
The mentally ill shooter wanted to shoot up the NFL HQ — but “mistakenly went up the wrong elevator banks” and ended up on a higher floor, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed Tuesday.
Suspected shooter Shane Tamura is seen dead on the floor in surveillance video after Monday’s mass shooting. © Obtained by NY Post
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Nevada, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, multiple law enforcement sources said. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
In the ramblings, which was several pages long, Tamura blamed football for his apparent struggle with the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and pleaded for his brain to be studied in the wake of the massacre, law enforcement sources said.
He wrote addressing Terry Long, the former Pittsburgh Steelers player who was diagnosed with CTE after downing antifreeze to kill himself 20 years ago.
“Terry Long, football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the note stated, according to sources.
“You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.”
“Please study brain for CTE. I’m sorry. The league knowingly concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits,” he wrote. “They failed us.”
The NFL has offices on floors five through eight of the Park Avenue high-rise, and one of its employees was among those shot, though not fatally..
Mayor Adams confirmed early Tuesday that Tamura’s note “alluded to having CTE from playing NFL” — even though “he never played in the NFL.”
“It appears as tho he was going after the employees of the NFL,” the mayor confirmed on Fox 5.
“We’re still going through the suicide note to zero on in the exact reason but at this time it appears as if it’s something attached to his belief he experienced CTE from the NFL.”
Shortly after the shooting, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch directly called executives at Blackstone – another notable tenant in the skyscraper – to inform them that they weren’t the intended targets, sources said.
NYPD officers stand near shattered glass of the building where a crazed gunman killed four people. © REUTERS
Tamura, who lived in Las Vegas and had a known mental health history there, initially opened fire in the building’s lobby before taking the elevator up to the 33rd floor where he turned the gun on himself.
He also shot a fifth victim in the lobby of the building who survived the attack, police said.
The surviving victim appears to an NFL employee, as the league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, told staffers in a letter that one of their own had been “seriously injured” in the shooting.
Workers barricade themselves in their office during Monday’s mass shooting.
Meanwhile, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had earlier revealed the maniac gunman, who lived in Las Vegas, had a known mental health history.
Tamura, who worked a security guard at a Las Vegas casino, never played professional football.
But he did play in high school in California, when he was a described as a standout football player.
“It looked like the sky was the limit, and then it wasn’t anymore,” former classmate Caleb Clarke told NBC News. Ahead of his senior year, his coach told the Los Angeles Times that he expected “big things” from the running back and other star players on the team.
July 29, 2025
Shooter Kills three and Himself and NYPD Officer Didarul Islam
A New York City police officer and three other people were shot and killed inside a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday evening by a gunman armed with a high-powered rifle, police confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said surveillance video shows the suspect exiting a double-parked black BMW alone on Park Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets just before 6:30 p.m., carrying an M4 rifle in his right hand. He then entered the 44-story building at 345 Park Ave., turned right and immediately began opening fire on an NYPD officer.
Not long after, multiple 911 calls were received about an active shooter inside the building, Tisch said. The building contains offices for Blackstone, the NFL, KPMG and others.
NYPD Officer Didarul Islam killed in shooting
Didarul Islam, 36, worked out of the 47th Precinct in the Bronx. A four-year veteran of the force, Didarul was on a paid detail Monday as part of a program the NYPD has that allows officers to be employed by private companies to provide extra security, CBS News New York’s Naveen Dhaliwal reported.
© NYPD
Didarul leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young sons, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a late-night news conference.
“He was doing what he does best, and all members of the police department carry out. He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers,” Adams said. “He was an immigrant from Bangladesh and he loved this city. And everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God and believed in living out the life of a godly person. He embodies what this city is all about. He’s a true-blue New Yorker, not only in a uniform he wore but in his spirit and energy of loving this city.”
NYPD officers stand in line during the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman Monday evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner’s office, early on July 29, 2025, in New York. © ANGELINA KATSANIS / AP
Adams said two men and a woman were also killed in the shooting and another man is in critical condition. The mayor called the shooting “a violent, despicable attack,” adding, “No words can describe this act of evil, a man who takes the life of others who are innocent. And no words can fill the void left by this tragedy.”
The mayor said he met with Islam’s family earlier in the evening and told them how much he was admired for putting his life on the line.
“This was his dad’s only son. I think about Jordan, my child, and it is unimaginable to experience a loss of this magnitude,” Adams said.
The names of the other people killed and the person injured are being withheld, pending family notification.
“Tonight we mourn four New Yorkers, including one of New York’s Finest, taken in an act of senseless violence,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on social media. “Our hearts are with their loved ones and everyone affected by this tragedy, and we honor the first responders who bravely ran toward danger.”
An NFL employee was seriously wounded and was hospitalized in stable condition, according to a message NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent to employees. The NFL told New York employees to work from home Tuesday while the building remains a crime scene.
What the preliminary investigation reveals
After shooting the officer, the gunman shot a woman who had taken shelter behind a pillar and then proceeded through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire, officials said.
He then made his way to the elevator bank, shooting a security guard who had taken cover behind the security desk. Another man who was wounded told police at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital he was shot in the lobby, Tisch said.
A surveillance photo of the suspected gunman who shot multiple people, including an NYPD officer, in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
The police commssioner said at one point the gunman was waiting for an elevator to arrive, and when it did, a woman emerged, but he allowed her to walk by unharmed. The gunman then took the elevator to the 33rd floor, the site of Rudin Management, and “began walking the floor, firing rounds as he traveled,” Tisch said, adding one of the victims was shot and killed on that floor.
“He then proceeds down the hallway and shoots himself in the chest,” Tisch said.
What police know about gunman Shane Tamura
Tisch said the vehicle Tamura exited on Park Avenue was registered to him. Inside, officers found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, ammunition and magazines, a backpack and medication prescribed to Tamura. No explosives were found.
The commissioner said preliminary findings show Tamura drove the vehicle across the country to get to New York City, traveling through Colorado on Saturday, Nebraska and Iowa on Sunday, and passing through Columbia, New Jersey at 4:24 p.m. on Monday.
A photo of the weapon used by the suspected gunman who opened fire in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025, according to law enforcement sources. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
According to law enforcement in Las Vegas, Tamura had a documented mental health history, Tisch said.
His motive remains under investigation. Tisch said investigators are working to figure out why he targeted 345 Park Ave. specifically.
After reports of the shooting, the building was placed on lockdown and the area was blocked off, police said.
The suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, 27, of Nevada, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, multiple law enforcement sources said. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
The NYPD and Adams asked the public to avoid the vicinity of East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Tisch said officers from the NYPD’s Special Operations Division were conducting a secondary sweep of the building.
“I want to be very clear: We believe this to be a lone shooter and there is no longer an active threat to the public,” Tisch said.
“Pure evil came to the heart of our city.”
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry spoke about the shooting and reflected on Islam’s dedication to the NYPD and the city.
“This is a devastating night for our city, for our police department,” Hendry said. “Pure evil came to the heart of our city and struck innocent people and one of our police officers who was protecting those people. We lost four people tonight, and our hero brother, who gave his life for this city. He was a hard-working police officer who was proud, we know from hearing from his family, to put on that shield and the uniform of a New York City police officer. Every day he went out and did his job.”
Hendry said the loss of Islam will serve as a great motivator going forward as the investigation continues.
“The hearts of every New York City police officer right now [are] hurting,” Hendry said. “We’re hurting for our brother police officer who we lost. We’re hurting for that family. We’re hurting for all the victims, and hurting for all the families of the victims. And we’re all asking why? Why did pure evil come here? And we know our police department and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to get those answers.”
July 29, 2025
Four dead, including an officer, after New York City office tower shooting
NEW YORK — A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle Monday, killing four people, including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said.
The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the NFL and Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, as well as other tenants.
The gunman, identified by authorities as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, had a ‘documented mental health history,’ according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, but his motive was still unknown.
“We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,” Tisch said.
The rampage happened at the end of the workday in the same part of Manhattan where the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare was gunned down outside a hotel late last year.
Surveillance video showed the man exiting a double-parked BMW just before 6:30 p.m. carrying an M4 rifle, then marching across a public plaza into the building. Then, he started firing, Tisch said, killing a police officer working a corporate security detail and then hitting a woman who tried to take cover as he sprayed the lobby with gunfire.
The ambulance carrying the body of Didarul Islam exits NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. © AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
The man then made his way to the elevator bank and shot a guard at a security desk and shot another man in the lobby, the commissioner said.
The man took the elevator to the 33rd floor offices of the company that owned the building, Rudin Management, and shot and killed one person on that floor. The man then shot himself, the commissioner said. The building, 345 Park Avenue, also holds offices of the financial services firm KPMG.
The officer killed was Didarul Islam, 36, an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years, Tisch said at a news conference.
“He was doing the job that we asked him to do. He put himself in harm’s way. He made the ultimate sacrifice,” Tisch said. “He died as he lived. A hero.”
© OpenStreetMap contributors
One man was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, Mayor Eric Adams said. Four others got minor injuries attempting to flee.
Adams said officials are still “unraveling” what took place.
Officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines and ammunition in Tamura’s car, Tisch said. They also found medication that belonged to Tamura, she said.
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
Rudin is one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in New York City. The company dates back to 1925 and is still managed by members of the Rudin family.
Tisch said there were no indications so far that Tamura had prior connections to the real estate industry or to the city.
No one answered the door at the address listed for Tamura in Las Vegas.
Islam, the slain officer, leaves behind two young boys, and his wife is pregnant with their third child, Tisch said.
Witnesses heard ‘rapid fire’
Local TV footage showed lines of people evacuating the office building with their hands above their heads in the hours after the killings.
Nekeisha Lewis was eating dinner with friends on the plaza when she heard gunfire.
“It felt like it was a quick two shots and then it was rapid fire,” she told The Associated Press.
Windows shattered and a man ran from the building saying, “Help, help. I’m shot.” Lewis said.
A New York police officer stands watch on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. © AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
Jessica Chen told ABC News she was watching a presentation with dozens of other people on the second floor when she “heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor.”
She and others ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door.
“We were honestly really, really scared,” she said, adding that she texted her parents to tell them that she loves them.
Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running.
“It was like a crowd panic,” said Anna Smith, who joined the workers pouring back into the finance office building. They remained there for about two hours before being told they could leave.
Tisch says she believes two officers were working in different parts of the building as part of a program where companies can hire NYPD officers to provide security.
The building where the shooting happened is in a busy area of midtown, located a short walk north from Grand Central Terminal and about a block east of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Through late July, New York City is on pace this year to possibly have its fewest homicides and fewest people hurt by gunfire in decades. But the city’s corporate community has been on edge since last December, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed outside a hotel hosting a conference.
The man charged in that killing, Luigi Mangione, is awaiting trial. Prosecutors accuse him of killing Thompson because he was angry at perceived corporate greed, particularly in the health insurance business. He has pleaded not guilty.
July 29, 2025
Midtown Office Shooting Leaves 4 Dead, Including Off-Duty Officer; Gunman Dies by Suicide
New York – A 27-year-old man wearing body armor and carrying an M4 assault rifle shot and killed four people, including an off-duty police officer, in a Midtown Manhattan office building Monday evening before killing himself, officials said.
A fifth victim was critically injured in the shooting, officials said. In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that victim is one of its employees and was listed in critical but stable condition.
The shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. in an office building at 345 Park Ave. at East 52nd Street, which contains the headquarters for the investment company Blackstone and the National Football League, sources told ABC News.
The suspect, identified as Shane Tamura, carried a note in his pocket claiming he suffered from CTE, asked that his brain be studied and made references to the NFL, police sources told ABC News.
Police said he had a documented mental health history and played high school football.
The three-page note was described by sources as rambling and contained references to the NFL sources described as vague.
A surveillance photo of the suspected gunman who shot multiple people, including an NYPD officer, in Midtown Manhattan on July 28, 2025. © CBS NEWS NEW YORK
After barricading himself on the 33rd floor, Tamura, a Las Vegas resident, was found dead from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
During a news conference Monday evening, Tisch said preliminary information suggests the suspect traveled cross-country in a BMW from Las Vegas before arriving in New York City.
Tamura had a license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Nevada. “We believe this to be a lone shooter,” Tisch said.
Police say Tamura emerged from a double-parked BMW Monday evening with an M4 rifle.
A security camera image shows Tamura holding a long gun and walking outside the office building.
He entered the lobby of the Midtown tower alone and immediately opened fire on an NYPD officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets.
He made his way to the elevator bank, where he shot a security guard, Tisch said. He then went up to the 33rd floor, where he shot another person before shooting himself in the chest, she added.
Detectives are actively trying to determine why the suspect went to the 33rd floor – whether he specifically was headed there or if he simply wound up on that level. Rudin Management, the real-estate company, is located on that floor.
Officers searched the suspect’s vehicle after the shooting, where they found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, ammunition and magazines, a backpack, “and medication prescribed to Mr. Tamura,” Tisch said. He had a documented history of mental-health problems, Tisch said.
The motive is currently under investigation, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said earlier on Monday.
In total, four people were shot dead plus the shooter in what Mayor Eric Adams called a “violent, despicable” act.
The deceased included NYPD officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct, who came to the U.S. from Bangladesh and who Adams said he had been on the force almost four years. He was working security in the building while off duty.
“Early tonight, I met with the officer’s family. I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line,” Adams said.
Islam was married with two young boys, and his wife was pregnant with a third child.
The officer, and the surviving male civilian were taken to New York Presbyterian, where the civilian is in critical but stable condition.
Two other civilians, one male and female, both killed in the shooting, were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Police say another female was the victim found dead on the 33rd floor.
A witness inside the Midtown office building at the time of the shooting, detailed to NY Budgets what it was like at the scene as colleagues hid in lockdown, unsure of what was unfolding.
A photo from inside the 32nd floor showed how employees barricaded the door.
“The only thing between me and the door was a chair flipped over,” Jessica Chen said of the initial moments of the lockdown. “I texted my parents ‘I love them,’” she continued.
“Nothing can describe that feeling,” Chen added.
Chen went on to say that she recalled doing active shooter drills in school and said she often wondered what she would do in this kind of scenario. “It’s unfortunate that all Americans could think this through,” Chen said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on the situation.
KPMG, an accounting firm that also has offices in the building, released a statement after the shooting, saying, “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement,” the company said.
Across the country, several squad cars from Las Vegas Metro Police have convened at entrances to the gated neighborhood where the purported suspect in the midtown Manhattan shooting was believed to have a home.
Detectives will be working throughout the night and the days ahead to piece together a profile of the man responsible.
Investigators are working to see where and when the gunman bought the high-powered rifle used in the rampage.
Detectives are now scrolling through thousands of surveillance cameras to pin point the gunman’s movements, minute by minute.
July 29, 2025
Grocery Chain CEO and Real Estate Titan Warn Socialist Mayoral Frontrunner Could ‘Destroy’ New York

Former Douglas Elliman CEO Dottie Herman and Stew Leonard’s President and CEO Stew Leonard Jr. speak with Fox News Digital about their opposition to NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s policies. (Fox Business)
NEW YORK CITY — As Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani surges to the front of New York City’s mayoral race following his historic primary victory, prominent figures in business and real estate are sounding the alarm, warning that his radical proposals could cripple the city’s economy and chase away its wealth base.
From government-run grocery stores to punitive housing regulations and higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy, Mamdani’s progressive platform is drawing fierce criticism from two of New York’s most recognizable business leaders: Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of the regional grocery empire Stew Leonard’s, and Dottie Herman, Vice Chair of Douglas Elliman and one of Forbes’ wealthiest self-made women in real estate.
“You’re in a street fight if you get into the food business,” said Leonard in an interview with Fox News Digital. “You gotta be in there with sharp prices, fresher product, friendlier people… Can the government do that? I don’t know.”
Leonard, who operates eight food stores and eight wine and spirit outlets across the Tri-State area, questioned the feasibility of Mamdani’s city-run supermarket proposal, which aims to sell food at wholesale prices. The idea is part of a broader vision that includes a citywide rent freeze, construction of 200,000 affordable units over ten years, and tighter enforcement on “bad landlords.”
“It’s seven days a week. Weekends are the busiest. If you’re paying $200 to $300 per square foot along Second Avenue, you need serious volume to make it work,” Leonard added. “Margins in food are razor-thin. Everyone eats, yes, but it’s still one of the toughest industries in the country.”
For Dottie Herman, the implications go beyond groceries—she sees Mamdani’s economic approach as an existential threat to the city’s future.
“I never talk about politics, but I am talking now because I really don’t want to see New York destroyed,” Herman said. “I believe with every breath of me, that if he gets in, we will be in a socialized country.”
Citing rising fear among developers and property investors, Herman shared that some clients are already reconsidering multimillion-dollar deals out of concern for punitive taxes and hostile business conditions.
“I’ve had people call me asking if they should cancel contracts on development sites in New York City,” she said. “People are scared. You’re going to discourage anyone from investing in rental property, and values will fall. That’s what happens when you tell people, ‘We’ll just take it from the rich.’”
Mamdani, who currently represents Astoria and Long Island City in the State Assembly, gained national attention after winning more votes in the primary than any candidate in the city’s history. His campaign site outlines a platform that includes raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5% and implementing a 2% flat tax on the city’s wealthiest residents—moves that would require state legislative approval and signoff from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has expressed concern about affordability and capital flight.
Mamdani’s platform also pushes for public control of grocery access, rent freezes, and an aggressive reworking of landlord-tenant laws—all in the name of housing and food equity.
While progressive circles and some younger millionaires have cheered his vision, established business figures worry his policies will bring economic instability, capital outflow, and unintended market disruption.
“The key to this business is freshness,” Leonard added. “Are you going to eliminate dyes, hormones, sugar, and antibiotics from your entire government inventory? That’s what I’ve done. But that drives up costs.”
With New York’s real estate market already facing tight inventory and slowing sales volumes, Herman warned that Mamdani’s proposed crackdown on landlords and tax hikes could lead to a broader investment freeze.
“If people can’t make money here, what business will come to New York?” she asked. “America is about the ability to grow and succeed, no matter where you start. That dream dies if the rules become punish-the-successful.”
Herman also revealed that a number of business owners are organizing political fundraisers to counter Mamdani’s momentum, signaling growing concern in the city’s economic elite.
The crowded mayoral race now pits Mamdani against rivals like former Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, raising speculation about whether the two centrist contenders might team up to create a unified front against the socialist frontrunner.
“I think one of them has to step aside for the other,” Herman said. “Because if not, the vote splits, and we hand this city to someone who doesn’t understand how it actually runs.”
Leonard, for his part, said that Mamdani’s victory would make him rethink expanding in New York City.
“I’d struggle to open five new stores here right now,” he said. “It’s a real challenge—and this would only make it harder.”
Despite the controversy, Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
July 18, 2025