Las Vegas – An attorney representing the man who sold the rifle used in Monday’s mass shooting in New York City, stated on Thursday that the sale of the firearm to the attacker was made in compliance with state and federal laws.
Shane Tamura, 27, caused the deaths of four people in an office building on Park Avenue before taking his own life. Investigators believe that Tamura, a casino worker from Las Vegas, was trying to reach the NFL offices in the building, but, after shooting several people in the lobby, he entered the wrong elevator set.
Authorities have reported that Tamura bought the AR-15 style rifle used in the attack and the car he drove across the country to his supervisor at the casino. New York police have indicated that the supervisor is cooperating with investigators.
Rick Ackley administered the transfer of the firearm used in the New York tragedy, legally complying with Nevada and Federal gun laws on October 2, 2024.
In a statement, Rasmussen added that Ackley “legally sold a firearm to the New York shooting suspect and is not suspected or considered to have any nefarious involvement.” Rasmussen added that Ackley was “heartbroken by this tragedy and will move forward with his life and asks for privacy at this difficult time.”
Ackley did not respond to the messages. A LinkedIn page shows Ackley as “Surveillance Supervisor at Bally’s Casino”, which is now Horseshoe Las Vegas, and that he has worked in surveillance for more than 20 years.
Tamura, who played American football in high school in California about a decade ago, but was never in the NFL, had a history of mental illness, according to police. A note found in his wallet suggested that he had a complaint against the NFL for a claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed by examining the brain after a person’s death. Brain experts have indicated that it could take weeks to know if Tamura had CTE.
