Mental health concerns of the Manhattan gunman bring forth unveiled details from newly disclosed information and 911 call logs by his mother
In the tragic event of the mass shooting that took place at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan on July 28, 2023, questions have been raised about whether Nevada's High Risk Protection Order (HRPO) could have prevented the perpetrator, Shane Devon Tamura, from owning the rifle used in the attack.
Tamura, a 27-year-old resident of Nevada, had a history of mental health struggles, including depression, insomnia, migraines, and lingering symptoms from a concussion. He also had a previous arrest and two psychiatric holds. In September 2022, Tamura was taken for emergency evaluation, but this alone did not strip his gun rights under federal or Nevada law.
The HRPO is a civil court process that can temporarily prohibit possession of firearms and require surrender of guns when petitioners demonstrate the person poses a significant risk. Petitions may be filed by law enforcement, family/household members, and certain others, and the court can issue an immediate short order without the respondent present followed by a full hearing for an extended order. However, the law only works when someone files a petition and the court finds the legal standard met.
In Tamura's case, multiple reports suggest he obtained a firearm legally in Nevada despite his documented mental health crisis holds. If an authorized petitioner (for example, law enforcement or a family member) had petitioned for an HRPO based on his dangerous behavior, a court could have issued an order removing his access to firearms. However, available reporting indicates that no such petition was filed, and therefore those holds by themselves did not legally prevent Tamura from purchasing the rifle.
The HRPO is relatively underused, and red-flag laws do not automatically prevent every case of violent behavior because they depend on someone taking legal action and on timely enforcement. Advocates argue for better awareness, use, and implementation of HRPOs to reduce such gaps.
In conclusion, while the HRPO could have been the mechanism to prevent Tamura's access to firearms if petitioners had sought it and a court had granted an order based on evidence of danger, in this case, the available reporting indicates that no court commitment or HRPO was sought and entered. This is a reminder of the need for better awareness, use, and implementation of HRPOs to prevent such tragedies in the future.
References:
- CNN
- Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Giffords Law Center
- Everytown for Gun Safety
- USA Today
The tragic incident at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan, involving Shane Devon Tamura, has sparked discussions about the potential role of Nevada's High Risk Protection Order (HRPO) in health-and-wellness, mental-health, and general-news contexts. Given Tamura's history of mental health issues and past arrests, some question whether an HRPO, if filed and granted, could have prevented his access to the rifle used in the attack. However, available reporting suggests no HRPO was sought or entered in this case, underscoring the importance of promoting awareness, use, and implementation of HRPOs in crime-and-justice matters to potentially mitigate such future tragedies.
