Deadly Manhattan Shooting Raises Questions Over Gun Law Loopholes and Mental Health Record Sharing

In the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Manhattan that left four people dead and another injured, questions are being raised about how a gunman with a history of mental health issues was able to obtain multiple firearms and carry out the attack, despite Nevada – his home state – having some of the nation’s strictest gun laws.

The shooter, identified as Shane Devon Tamura, had a license to carry concealed weapons in Nevada and a documented history of mental health issues. According to law enforcement sources, he was placed on psychiatric hold in 2022 and 2024, but this may not have necessarily prohibited him from obtaining his license or purchasing firearms, depending on the circumstances surrounding the holds, as per gun law experts.

On Monday, Tamura walked into a Midtown Manhattan office building with an M4 assault-style rifle and opened fire. He later died by suicide. The AR-15 style weapon used in the shooting was legally purchased last year by Tamura’s supervisor at a Vegas casino where he worked, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The supervisor then assembled it and sold it to Tamura for $1,400, the officials said, citing an interview with the cooperating supervisor.

It is still unclear whether the private sale between Tamura and the supervisor involved a background check. If not, the seller could face legal jeopardy if the investigation reveals that the firearm transfer took place in Nevada and did not follow the state law requiring background checks for private sales.

The shooting has brought attention to the gap in sharing mental health data with the federal government, an issue attributed to inadequate funding, privacy concerns, and stigmatization of individuals with mental health issues, according to Thomas Chittum, former associate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Tamura was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing in 2023 after refusing to leave a Las Vegas casino following an attempt to cash out about $5,000. A court database suggests a district attorney declined to pursue the case, meaning it wouldn’t have prevented him from obtaining a gun.

The shooting also raises questions about private gun sales and the need for comprehensive background checks. New York City homicide detectives are currently working to piece together a timeline of events leading up to the attack and examining how Tamura obtained multiple firearms and traveled from Las Vegas to New York City with an assault rifle.

A search of the gunman’s car turned up additional ammunition, another loaded weapon, headphones possibly used for target practice, two cell phones, the antidepressant Zoloft, and cannabis. A note found in Tamura’s pocket claimed he had CTE, a disease linked to head trauma often associated with football players. The New York City chief medical examiner’s office will test Tamura’s remains for CTE.

As for the psychiatric holds, it is difficult to say without knowing the details whether they would have shown up in a background check or prevented Tamura from purchasing weapons, experts say. There is a concerted effort by veterans’ groups and advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union to fight against the sharing of mental health records with the National Crime Information Center and local law enforcement, according to Eller.

In cases where a person was declared incompetent by a court, faced a restraining order, involuntarily committed, or deemed a danger to themselves or others due to a mental illness, the federal government restricts firearm ownership, and states largely follow federal law with some variations. However, there is still a need for improved availability of mental health records during background checks.

The shooting has renewed calls for increased regulation of assault weapons by progressive lawmakers, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticizing “much looser laws in the State of Nevada than we have here.” She called on federal lawmakers to pass a national assault weapon ban and slammed GOP counterparts whom she accused of being “intimidated by the gun lobby.”