The NFL has urged its teams to use armed security at their facilities following the deadly shooting at the league’s New York headquarters.
Craig Clementi, who works in the NFL’s finance department, survived reportedly being shot in the back, while four others who did not work for the league were killed at 345 Park Avenue, which also houses several major financial companies.
New York mayor Eric Adams said murder suspect Shane Tamura was targeting the NFL offices but instead ended up on the wrong floor.
Nonetheless, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called the loss of life ‘devastating’ in an interview with NBC, and the league has now sent out a memo recommending upgraded security measures to its teams.
In the memo, which was obtained by The Athletic, the league has recommended that league and team facilities have armed officers present whenever players or staff are there.
The memo, which was sent out on Friday, also recommended weapons screening for anyone entering a league or team facility, and ‘updated risk assessments’ at every team and league facility.
Shane Tamura, 27, gunned down four people during a deadly attack in New York last month
The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have now recommended upgraded security measures
‘The Committee recognizes that these changes will affect day-to-day operations and require an investment of time, coordination, and resources,’ the memo read.
‘However, there is no higher priority than the safety and security of our players, coaches, staff, and everyone who works in and around our facilities.’
The memo reportedly says that the recommended changes have already been sent out, with The Athletic reporting that they will be reviewed at a special meeting on August 26.
Tamura, a former high school football player, allegedly believed he had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
In a note found in his wallet at the scene in Midtown, he accused the league of hiding the dangers of brain injuries linked to contact sports.
Tamura also asked to have his brain studied after his death. Police say he had a history of mental illness.
His actions killed NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, security guard Aland Etienne and real estate professional Julia Hyman.
The NFL commissioner attended the funeral of New York Police officer Didarul Islam
During his interview, Goodell insisted that ‘there are no excuses for the senseless acts’
Goodell later said that NFL employee Clementi was ‘stable and improving.’
When asked about the NFL being targeted, an emotional Goodell told NBC: ‘It’s a difficult thing, particularly when you’re dealing with a senseless act like this.
‘There are no excuses for those senseless acts – they are hard for all of us to understand when it inflicts pain on people you know and care about and people we deal with on a daily basis.
‘That’s particularly hard but – as you know – these acts of senseless violence and hatred are happening around our country and our world far too often… we all have to continue to be vigilant and do what we can to protect ourselves and the NFL is going to do that with our employees and our people.’
The tragedy unfolded on July 28 when Tamura exited a BMW armed with a rifle before entering the Manhattan skyscraper.
New York Police Department officials say Tamura fired on one officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets before taking an elevator to the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot another person and killed himself.
