CNN identified NYC shooter Shane Tamura as ‘possibly white’

Some of the first photos online of Tamura showed him walking in the city with the AR-15, and CNN’s Erin Burnett and John Miller said that police knew the shooter had "sunglasses [and] mustache" and that he was a "male” and “possibly white." However, the photograph showed that Tamura had a darker complexion. Some earlier police reports suggested that he might have been Middle Eastern.

CNN was slammed for the reporting, with users criticizing the network's description. Turning Point USA CEO and founder Charlie Kirk wrote on X, "Law Enforcement: Here's multiple pictures of the not white suspect. CNN: 'They know he is, a male, possibly white. He's wearing sunglasses.' Gee, it's almost like they have an agenda."

Human Events Daily host Jack Posobiec also mocked the segment from CNN.

One social media user wrote, "That is one of the darkest white person I’ve ever seen."

Another wrote, "Unbelievable. He blatantly lied to the viewers. That could be potentially dangerous, by misleading who could be the shooter."

NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, as well as three other people, were killed in the shooting as Tamura made his way through the building before turning the gun on himself.

He barged into the skyscraper that has the headquarters for Blackstone, the NFL, and other firms. A suicide note that he left said that he had issues with the NFL after suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a condition from repeated head injuries. He played football in high school.