Las Vegas, NV:
In a development that has sent shockwaves from the Las Vegas Strip to the streets of New York City, it has emerged that the AR-15-style rifle used in the recent Park Avenue mass shooting was legally sold by a Las Vegas casino supervisor to the gunman, Shane Tamura, just months before the tragic events unfolded.
The Cross-Country Connection
According to statements from a Las Vegas attorney representing the seller, Rick Ackley—a veteran surveillance supervisor at Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s Casino)—the firearm transaction strictly complied with both Nevada state and federal laws. The rifle was transferred in October 2024, with all required background checks conducted via a licensed Federal Firearms Licensee. Ackley is not considered a suspect and authorities report that he has been fully cooperative with ongoing investigations.
Ackley, reportedly devastated by his inadvertent link to the attack, has requested privacy as he deals with the aftermath. He has worked in casino surveillance for more than two decades and had no prior indication that the buyer, Tamura, posed a threat.
Inside the Attack
On Monday, July 28, chaos erupted in Midtown Manhattan when 27-year-old Shane Tamura, originally from Las Vegas and a former casino surveillance worker, entered an office building on Park Avenue heavily armed. Tamura’s rampage left four people dead—including a New York City police officer and employees from some of the city’s most prominent businesses—before he turned the rifle on himself.
Investigators believe Tamura was seeking access to the NFL headquarters in the building, driven by grievances linked to claims he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head injuries. Evidence found at the scene included a note from Tamura referencing CTE and expressing anger about alleged dangers related to contact sports.
Legal but Troubling Gaps
Authorities have confirmed that Tamura’s acquisition of the AR-15-style rifle and the car he drove to New York were both completed in Las Vegas in a lawful manner. Under Nevada law, private firearm sales between individuals have been subject to universal background check requirements since 2020, ensuring all transfers go through a federally licensed dealer. Las Vegas police have found no evidence of legal violations in the transfer of the rifle from Ackley to Tamura.
Still, the case has reignited debates over the effectiveness of existing gun laws, particularly “red flag” statutes intended to prevent individuals with troubling mental health histories from accessing firearms. Reports indicate Tamura had a documented history of mental illness, with at least two mental health crisis holds in Nevada prior to the attack. However, such holds, unless formally processed as high-risk protection orders by law enforcement or family members, often do not trigger reporting to the background check system.
The Shooter’s Background
Tamura’s life before the shooting gave little indication of the violence to come. Once a high school football player in California, he moved to Las Vegas where he later obtained a concealed firearms permit. He worked in the security and surveillance industries, holding a work card from Nevada’s Private Investigators Licensing Board. Tamura’s most recent troubles included a dismissed misdemeanor trespassing charge from 2023 and ongoing mental health challenges, as evidenced by psychiatric medications discovered in his residence.
Despite these warning signs, Tamura passed all legal checks necessary to purchase firearms—including the AR-15 and a revolver acquired through his concealed carry license just weeks before the shooting. Investigators continue to sift through his electronics and speak with his family to gain further insight into his motives.
National Discussion Intensifies
As New York City mourns the loss of lives and searches for answers, the Las Vegas connection to the mass shooting has added urgency to national conversations about gun control, mental health, and the responsibilities of private gun sellers. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are again calling for stricter enforcement of red flag laws, multi-state information sharing, and stronger safeguards to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
For Ackley and the Las Vegas casino community, this tragedy is a jarring reminder that even legally conducted sales can have unforeseen and devastating consequences. The victims’ families, meanwhile, have begun memorials for their loved ones, united in grief as New York and Nevada both grapple with the far-reaching impacts of this senseless act of violence.
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