Roger Goodell is among those left reeling after the events of July 28.
The commissioner of the NFL spoke out after a shooting occurred in the Midtown Manhattan office building which houses the organization’s headquarters, among other businesses, including investment management company Blackstone. Four individuals have been confirmed dead, including New York Police Department officer Didarul Islam.
In a statement shared with employees and obtained by NBC News, Goodell shared, “One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack. He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition. NFL staff are at the hospital and we are supporting his family.”
The commissioner confirmed that it was believed all other employees were safe and accounted for.
“We are deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who responded to this threat quickly and decisively,” Goodell added, “and to Officer Islam, who gave his life to protect others.”
Islam—who emigrated to the United States from Bangladesh—had been with the NYPD for over three years, per NBC News. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, per the outlet, also confirmed Islam was father to two children and that he and his wife were expecting a third child at the time of his death.
“He put himself in harm’s way,” Tisch said. “He made the ultimate sacrifice—shot in cold blood, wearing a uniform that stood for the promise that he made to this city.”
The gunman has been identified by four senior law enforcement officers as Shane Devon Tamura, per NBC News, a 27-year-old from Las Vegas. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Tamura’s motives remain unconfirmed, however two officials familiar with the matter, per NBC News, said in a note found at the shooting scene, the suspect wondered whether “CTE”—known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease often associated with football players—might have affected his mental health.
In addition to Officer Islam, three civilians were killed in the attack, including Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner. (Officials have not released the identities of the other two victims at this time).
LePatner joined Blackstone in 2014 and was the “Global Head of Core+ Real Estate” and CEO to one of the largest funds owned by Blackstone, the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust.
“Words cannot express the devastation we feel,” the company said in a statement to NBC News. “Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond. She embodied the best of Blackstone.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
