Rhianna Benson
After a gunman opened fire at a Midtown Manhattan office building yesterday (28 July), harrowing images have been released showing staff members barricading themselves in.
The perpetrator was later identified by NYPD as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, with police establishing that he'd entered a high rise building in Park Avenue at around 6.30pm, before firing rounds at nearby staff members.
Two people were tragically gunned down by Tamura inside the entrance hall, along with police officer, Didarul Islam, 36.
After taking an elevator to the 33rd floor - where one of New York City’s oldest real estate firms, Rudin Management, is housed - he shot and killed another member of staff.
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The gunman then turned the M4 assault rifle on himself, dying of a self-inflicted wound to his chest.
The building targeted by Tamura housed the offices of a number of business, including the NFL (National Football League) and asset manager firm Blackstone.
A video and several photographs have since emerged, showing staff at the latter private equity company barricading themselves into their office in fear of the gunman's arrival.
In one image, a horde of furniture could be seen pressed up against the office's doorway - including sofas, chairs and desks.
Commenting on the distressing images, a number of social media users claimed they point out a devastating reality about life in the States - that teachers are forced demonstrate these safety practices to their children every day.
"Let's be fair, many people have been trained their whole lives due to the allegedly unavoidable school shootings," one Twitter user noted.
Another added: "Teacher here—-It is sad kids have to go through the training, but it is life saving. The world has a mental health crisis."
"Not to sound cynical," another educator continued. "But we teachers have been practicing this crap in our classrooms for 20+ years now.
"Welcome to my world."
A fourth went on to note, 'That’s so sad', whilst another described the necessary measures as, 'Terrible'.
After news broke that the gunman had ended his own life, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told press that Tamura had a 'documented mental health history', though authorities are still said to be working out a motive.
It also remains uncertain why he targeted that particular office location.
According to the New York Post, however, a note was left behind by Tamura which supposedly hints at answers to these questions.
In the lengthy letter, the killer is said to have blamed his struggle with a neurodegenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) on football.
The NHS describes the condition as being linked to repeated head injuries and blows to the head.
It has since emerged that Tamura was a 'standout football player', according to the New York Post.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed yesterday that one of his employees had been 'seriously injured in this attack' and was 'currently in the hospital and in stable condition'.