'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza PerformanceNew Foto - 'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza Performance

'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza Performanceoriginally appeared onParade. Gracie Abramsput on a show to remember at Lollapalooza 2025. The "I Love You, I'm Sorry" singer rocked the stage during Day One in Chicago on July 31, wowing the crowd with a dazzling two-piece set featuring a champagne-colored top and skirt. Abrams, 25, shocked the crowd when acclaimed Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn—whose real name is Robin Miriam Carlsson—joined her on stage for a duet of her hit 2010 song, "Dancing On My Own." On August 1, the California native shared aheartfelt postabout the performance on Instagram, which featured a variety of photos from the special day. "Chicago, I will write you love letters for years and years and years," she wrote before thanking Lollapalooza. Abrams then addressed Robyn, 46, saying, "Watching you walk out on stage in those cherry red heels with the hair and the drums and the wind and the smoke made my heart stop. You have magic powers and by some miracle you are also generous enough to have shared them with us last night. "Every second up there with you was electric and impossible to believe. Thank you will never cut it, but thank you, and thank you for making my favorite music. 'Handle M' is playing in my headphones as I type this. I love you." The "Close To You" singer then expressed how "proud" she is to work with her team. Fans showered Abrams with enthusiastic praise in the comments—and they certainly weren't just "Blowing Smoke." "Proud. Of. U. Superstar," one wrote. "Waiting 8 hours for you has never been more worth it n I'm so proud of you," another said. "Beautiful and perfect and talented I cry," a third commented. ActressAli Wentworthalso gave Abrams a sweet compliment, writing, "Come ON with these beautiful photos." "'We love you Gracie' we all say in unison," a fifth fan said. "Best night!!!!!" another wrote. Fans kept the praise coming, with one writing, "Just the absolute coolest thing I've ever witnessed." "I'm so proud of u I'll go cry," another said. One happy fan called the "Free Now" singer "perfect," while another called her a "literal legend." The abundance of admiration continued, with another fan commenting, "She's amazing. She's an angel in the air." "Slayed queen!!! You deserve it all," an excited fan said. "I'll never shut up about this btw," another concertgoer wrote. "GRACIEPALOOZA FOREVERRRR," an enthusiastic fan declared. Abrams is also still rocking the stage on herSecrets ofUs Tour, which concludes with two performances in Mexico City on August 26 and 27. The highly-anticipated tour began on September 5, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. 'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza Performancefirst appeared on Parade on Aug 1, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza Performance

'Proud' Fans Are Losing It Over Gracie Abrams' 'Beautiful' Lollapalooza Performance 'Proud' Fans Are Losing It O...
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Rumors That Mamas & Papas' Singer Cass Elliot Died by Ham Sandwich Still Plague Family 50+ Years After Her DeathNew Foto - Rumors That Mamas & Papas' Singer Cass Elliot Died by Ham Sandwich Still Plague Family 50+ Years After Her Death

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Cass Elliot was beloved by legions of fans as the lead singer of The Mamas & The Papas Elliot's death at 32 shocked the world on July 29, 1974 Those closest to the singer are reflecting on the reason behind the biggest misconception about her death The death of the legendaryMamas & Papassinger sent shockwaves across the world on July 29, 1974. No one was more shocked, however, than the people closest to Cass Elliot. Those who knew and loved her were in disbelief at the news thatElliot had diedat age 32. Elliot died of a heart attack that, in the aftermath of her death, many would suspect was related to substance abuse and dangerous dieting techniques. At the time, however, rumors went rampant that the singer died after choking on a ham sandwich. Friend Sue Cameronpreviously told PEOPLEabout the first time she'd heard that story, having called Elliot's apartment after hearing the news. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Donaldson Collection/Getty "Her manager, Allan Carr, picked up the phone, and he was hysterical. Allan said, 'You've got to tell them that she died choking on a ham sandwich. You must go to your typewriter and write that. There's a half of a ham sandwich on her nightstand.' " "I didn't ask any questions," Cameron, then a columnist atThe Hollywood Reporter, shared. She later elaborated on the experience andthe story behind the rumor in her 2018 bookHollywood Secrets and Scandals. "I knew she didn't choke on a ham sandwich. I didn't believe Allan, but I thought just do it because something was wrong." "The ham sandwich went worldwide," Cameron told PEOPLE. "Many people don't realize that it's not even true. Even though I have said — and written — it's not true, it still goes on. I never thought it would last as long as it has." Anautopsy revealed Elliot had died of a heart attack; No drugs were found in her system, but there was still talk of substance abuse in her inner circle. On the day Elliot died, Cameron wrote her obituary and then rushed to the singer's house. "The gates were open. The front door was unlocked. I just went there to protect anything because sometimes, on the day a famous person dies, people try to get into the house. Something in my head told me to go upstairs. Why lie about a ham sandwich? So I went up to her bedroom and looked in the cabinets, and it was completely cleaned out," Cameron says. "Many years later, I was a guest at a party, and there was a well-known model from that era [there]. Somehow, the topic of Cass came up, and she said, 'I was the one who was there and cleaned out the drugs.' It was odd because it was 30 years later. I must have arrived right after her." For Elliot's daughter,Owen Elliot-Kugell, the rumor has been an ugly and painful stain on the singer's legacy. In her 2024 memoirMy Mama, Cass, Elliot-Kugell shared her hatred for the rumor. "In my younger years, when people would talk to me about my mom, it was always about the stupid sandwich," she told PEOPLE. "I would go over to kids' houses after school and eventually one of their parents would ask me 'Did your mom really die choking on a ham sandwich?' First of all, the chutzpah to say that to a child is just crazy but it happened a lot. So I felt it was my duty to figure out what that story was all about." It was through this process that Elliot-Kugell learned Carr was hoping to offset any other rumors that might arise, especially about drugs, by sharing that detail with Cameron. After learning the story's origin, Elliot-Kugell began to see things in a different light. "So many of my mother's peers had died from drug overdoses — Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison. And I think Allan was afraid they'd make the same assumption," she says. "I really believe they were protecting her legacy. And they were trying to protect me. And in a weird way, I'm grateful for that crazy story. As much as it caused me grief, and people made jokes, I now realize it kept her relevant and ready to shine again." Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

Rumors That Mamas & Papas' Singer Cass Elliot Died by Ham Sandwich Still Plague Family 50+ Years After Her Death

Rumors That Mamas & Papas' Singer Cass Elliot Died by Ham Sandwich Still Plague Family 50+ Years After Her Death Michael Ochs Archiv...
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Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian 'provocative statements'New Foto - Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian 'provocative statements'

By Ryan Patrick Jones and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in "the appropriate regions" in response to statements from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev ... I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that," Trump said in a social media post. He added: "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances." He did not specify what he meant by "nuclear submarines." Submarines may be nuclear-powered, or armed with nuclear missiles. It is extremely rare for the U.S. military to discuss the deployment and location of U.S. submarines given their sensitive mission in nuclear deterrence. The U.S. Navy declined comment. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump and Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, have traded taunts in recent days after Trump on Tuesday said Russia had "10 days from today" to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or be hit with tariffs, along with its oil buyers. Medvedev on Thursday said Trump should remember that Moscow possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort, after Trump told Medvedev to "watch his words." Moscow, which has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, has given no indication that it will comply with Trump's deadline of August 8. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow hoped for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war was in its favor. He made no reference to the deadline. Trump, who in the past touted good relations with Putin, has expressed mounting frustration with the Russian leader, accusing him of "bullshit" and describing Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine as disgusting. Medvedev has emerged as one of the Kremlin's most outspoken anti-Western hawks since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022. Kremlin critics deride him as an irresponsible loose cannon, though some Western diplomats say his statements illustrate the thinking in senior Kremlin policy-making circles. Trump also rebuked Medvedev in July, accusing him of throwing around the "N (nuclear) word" after the Russian official criticized U.S. strikes on Iran and said "a number of countries" were ready to supply Iran with nuclear warheads. "I guess that's why Putin's 'THE BOSS'", Trump said at the time. The U.S. president took office in January having promised to end the Ukraine war on Day One, but has not been able to get Moscow to agree to a ceasefire. Only six countries operate nuclear-powered submarines: the U.S., the UK, Russia, China, France and India. The U.S. Navy has 71 commissioned submarines including 53 fast attack submarines, 14 ballistic-missile submarines, and four guided-missile submarines. All of them are nuclear-powered, but only some carry nuclear weapon-tipped missiles. (Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto, and Phil Stewart, Mike Stone and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian 'provocative statements'

Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian 'provocative statements' By Ryan Patrick Jones and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reu...
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California man arrested for allegedly sending money to ISISNew Foto - California man arrested for allegedly sending money to ISIS

The FBI arrested on Friday a man in Long Beach, California, for allegedly sending money to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a designated foreign terrorist organization,according to the Department of Justice. Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, a permanent US resident originally from the Philippines, faces up to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the Justice Department said in a statement. Investigators said Villanueva was in communication with two individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters via social media earlier this year. In those messages, Villanueva allegedly expressed his desire to support ISIS and offered to send money to aid the group's activities. "It's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven." Villanueva allegedly wrote to the ISIS fighters. "Someday soon, I'll be joining." Over a five-month period, Villanueva sent 12 payments totaling $1,615 to two intermediaries who accessed the money overseas, according to Western Union records cited by the DOJ. During his arrest, the FBI recovered what appeared to be a bomb from his bedroom, according to photos posted on the FBI's Facebook and X accounts. "Mr. Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the United States and our interests around the world," said Patrick Grandy, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old former member of the Michigan Army National Guard was arrested after he allegedly attempted to carry out a plan toconduct a mass shootingat a US military base in Michigan on behalf of ISIS. Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said was arrested on the scheduled day of the attack, after he visited an area near the military base and launched a drone in support of the attack plan, according to the Justice Department. He allegedly planned to attack the Army's Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, which is located in a Detroit suburb and manages the Army's supply chain for tanks. Prosecutors say he offered to help undercover law enforcement officers carry out the attack by training them to use firearms and make Molotov cocktails and by providing armor-piercing ammunitions and magazines for the attack. Said was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and with distributing information related to a destructive device. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

California man arrested for allegedly sending money to ISIS

California man arrested for allegedly sending money to ISIS The FBI arrested on Friday a man in Long Beach, California, for allegedly sendin...
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James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)New Foto - James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)

James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)originally appeared onParade. James Van Der Beekhas entered a new act in his life—one ushered in by his cancer diagnosis. When theDawson's Creekstar moved to Texas during the pandemic and found himself surrounded by nature and with his children, he thought, "Man, this is life. What do I need acting for?" "I really let go of any attachments that I had to what it means to be an actor, or what my own version of success is or felt like or needs to be. And I just really felt like, 'Oh, I could walk away from this,'" Van Der Beek, 48, recalled in an exclusive interview withParade. "And then when I got cancer and I looked around at the world and where my place is in it and wanting to stay in it, I realized I love to tell stories. I really am so grateful for this opportunity to write and to act." "I joked that I'm the only guy who got cancer and said, 'You know what I've realized is I need to work more,'" he added. Van Der Beek, whowas diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023, feels he's gained not just a newfound appreciation for life. "And so I'm really looking forward to this next act," he said. As for what this new act might look like? "I think it's going to be a combination of things that I write and create and things that I'm just lucky enough to step into and join," Van Der Beek explained. "I would imagine there's got to be some comedy in there and hopefully some singing and dancing, too." Related:See the Cast of 'Dawson's Creek' Then and Now The Masked Singeralum admittedly "really, really, really" wants to do a musical one day, but for now has been busy with projects like theSidelinedsequel andElle. Months after revealing his cancer diagnosis, Van Der Beekjoined the cast of theLegally Blondeprequel series,Elle. "It was such a gift to get to do such a cool, high-profile project. That [Elle] andOvercompensating, which I got to do," Van Der Beek said. "Both were relatively small time commitments, which allowed me to stay with my family, but then I also get to go to set with these genius people and make something really fun." View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) The actor's wifeKimberly Van Der Beekand their six kids—Olivia,Joshua,Annabel,Emilia,GwendolynandJeremiah—"are the center" of his life. Aug. 1, 2025 marked the couple's 15th wedding anniversary. ForThe Rules of Attractionactor, those 15 years have taught him how important it is to evolve together. "I think there was maybe a part of me before that was like, 'Okay, I'm gonna go grow or build or deal with this thing here, and then come back and I'll be perfect. Look at this.' And what I realized is just how marriage, it's a team sport," Van Der Beek said with a laugh. "If your spouse is attending a class or reading a book, or they've read some self-help book or whatever, and they're putting everything through that lens. Read that book. Read that book. Know what they're doing and participate in it and share your own process as well. Because there's who you were before you got married, there's who you are when you get married, and then there's who you're meant to become, and this other person is there to help you discover that." When it comes to their long-lasting marriage, the Hollywood star takes it day-by-day and tries to show up the best he possibly can, but remarked that "probably the secret" is "I married the right person, really." By his own admission, Van Der Beek's cancer diagnosis has strengthened his and Kimberly's relationship. "I'm more in love than ever, and more in awe of her than ever, and how she's able to handle everything that I had to drop when I got diagnosed, and everything that she does, and just what it is to be that loved by somebody," Van Der Beek gushed. "It's really been an absolute gift." View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) The actor's children have also been a source of strength and motivation amid his cancer journey—and their hugs are "the most healing thing" Van Der Beek "could possibly get." The dad of six said, "I really feel like that's the best medicine, to be around all that love and just to see their support and to show them. You can talk about resilience. And I try really, really as best I can to teach resilience in my kids. But I think the best thing I could do is show them resilience." Related:James Van Der Beek Opens Up About How His Kids Are Handling His Cancer Diagnosis Since being diagnosed with cancer, Van Der Beek has come to discover the depth of his own resilience and strength. "In the beginning, one of the things I kept saying was, 'Man, I know this sounds stupid, but this is harder than I thought it would be,' and having been through this crazy journey, what I'm realizing is just how strong I am," he shared. Van Der Beek's also recognized the importance of asking for help, "no matter how strong you are." He said, "I don't know how anybody does this alone. And I was blessed with this amazing group of friends and family who had all been wanting to show up for me, but me trying to be Superman wouldn't let them. And so I was robbing them of a chance to show me how much they cared. That's really been a game changer, is just 'Oh I can be the guy who also asks for help when he needs it.'" To help raise awareness about colorectal cancer screenings, Van Der Beek has teamed up withGuardant Health. "One of the things I really want to get across to people is that you don't need symptoms to start getting screened. Put it on your radar, talk to your doctor," he advised. "At the time that I got diagnosed, I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I was doing sauna, cold plunge, working out, all the things and I had full-blown stage three cancer and didn't know it." While colorectal cancer is the "second deadliest cancer," Van Der Beek pointed out that it is "also the most treatable when you catch it early." TheVarsity Bluesstar stressed, "That's why it's so crucial, and that's why I'm so happy to team up withShield by Guardantto get the word out there. What they offer is a really convenient, pleasant screening option because it's just a simple blood draw that you could do at your next doctor's appointment." Van der Beek himself had a "couple of symptoms" that prompted him to go in for his screening, but "nothing like [a] big flashing red flag." After privately navigating his diagnosis for a period of time, theSidelined: The QB and Meactorpublicly opened up about his healthin November of 2024. "Fortunately, I have an amazing inner circle, and my community, the Greater Austin medical community was amazing, and nobody leaked it for a year. And so I was given the time and the grace to handle it privately for quite some time," he said. Van Der Beek's diagnosis has continued to be a process with many chapters. "I think at first there was shock, and then there was 'All right, how am I going to make this the best thing that ever happened to me?' And then you ride that enthusiasm for a little while, and then reality kicks in and then you get tired and you get scared, and then you really start to look at your own mortality," he shared. "And then eventually, where I came to was recognizing that 'Oh wow. Even with cancer and not able to do the things that I want to do, like be the father I want to be, be the husband I want to be, even if I'm just sick in bed, I'm still worthy of love' and that's a really important thing to know and an important thing to share with everybody because we all are, and I think that's one thing that I had missed in my life in just how busy and how dedicated and how ambitious I was because I had such an oddly transactional relationship with self-love." Van Der Beek noted, "I look at it and say, 'Well, maybe that's the whole reason I'm going through this is to learn that lesson of, you know, the thing of like put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others.' You gotta love yourself before you can help anybody else." Next,James Van Der Beek Is One Busy Dad: Inside the 'Dawson's Creek' Actor's Life With Six Kids James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)first appeared on Parade on Aug 1, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)

James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Reignited His Passion for Acting and He's 'More in Love Than Ever' With Wife Kimberly (Exclusive)...
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"Naked Gun" Director Limited Reboot to Only 1 O.J. Simpson Joke to Be 'Respectful': 'The Elephant in the Room'

Paramount Pictures (2) Akiva Schaffer is directing the latest iteration of the popular police movie,The Naked Gun The comedy creator was tasked with following the franchise's storied legacy, while still acknowledging the fresh cast To do so, Schaffer said the new film needed to acknowledge O.J. Simpson's previous role in the original films The Naked Gunis making a comedic reference to all of its previous stars, including controversial athleteO.J. Simpson DirectorAkiva Schafferconfessed toThe Hollywood Reporterthat when people learned he was taking on the newest iteration of the spoof franchise, he was immediately asked about what he would do about Simpson'sNaked Guncharacter, Detective Nordberg. The late athlete starred in the 1988 original, plus the sequels in 1991 and 1994. "When I first told friends, 'Hey, I'm actually about to write aNaked Gun,' they'd go, 'What are you going to do about O.J?' So, right away, I was like, 'Oh, right. That's the elephant in the room that has to be addressed,' " he recalled for the outlet. But he confessed they only needed one joke to address audience questions. Paramount Pictures Schaffer, 47, admitted that after writing the initial joke acknowledging Simpson's character, he and the writers "never wrote another O.J. joke." The sole Simpson joke appears in the film's trailer, as starsLiam NeesonFrank Drebin Jr. andPaul Walter Hauserpay tribute to framed photos of their late parents in a police Hall of Legends. It then transitions to a framed portrait of Nordberg (Simpson), before cutting to his son Nordberg Jr. (Moses Jones) breaking the fourth wall and shaking his head in appallment. "We just went, 'Yep, that takes care of that,' " Schaffer said. "I didn't know that the joke would kill as hard as it did at our first test screening. If I had known that, then maybe I would've written other jokes," he continued. "But you want to be respectful of everything that revolves around him, so it's not something I really took glee in. We just had to acknowledge it in a way we thought was not dancing on anybody's misfortunes," he said, seemingly referencingSimpson's infamous 1995 murder trialfor the homicides of his ex-wife,Nicole Brown Simpsonand her friend,Ron Goldman. Unique Nicole/Getty for Paramount Pictures He also explained that he and the team "didn't get pushback or anything." "On the edgy jokes, people would go, 'Ooh, I don't know.' And I'd be like, 'Don't worry. The movie is going to be 85 minutes. A fourth of the script is getting cut. Anything that doesn't work is going to be cut,' " he explained. "So that's the way I made everyone relax all the time." (The film was intended to be 85 minutes long to mirror the original two films' runtimes, but is ultimately 83 minutes.) The movie, produced bySeth MacFarlane, is based on the Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and Jerry Zucker franchiseThe Naked Gun,which originally starred Leslie Nielsen as self-serious detective Frank Drebin, who managed to rise through the ranks of the police squad. In the new film, Neeson stars as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of Nielsen's character, as he follows in his father's footsteps. The cast includes Hauser,Pamela Anderson, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu and Danny Huston. Frank Masi/Paramount Pictures Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Naked Gunpremiered in theaters on Friday, Aug. 1. Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

“Naked Gun” Director Limited Reboot to Only 1 O.J. Simpson Joke to Be 'Respectful': 'The Elephant in the Room'

"Naked Gun" Director Limited Reboot to Only 1 O.J. Simpson Joke to Be 'Respectful': 'The Elephant in the Room' Par...
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The Manhattan shooter had a previous arrest and 2 psychiatric holds, sources say. How was he able to own a gun?New Foto - The Manhattan shooter had a previous arrest and 2 psychiatric holds, sources say. How was he able to own a gun?

New York City's deadliest shooting in 25 years – in a state with some of the toughest gun laws in the nation – is raising questions about how a gunman with a history of mental health issues was able to obtain multiple firearms and drive undetected across several states to carry out the attack. The gunman who walked into a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday, M4 assault-style rifle in hand, and sprayed it with gunfire, hada license to carry a concealed weaponin his home state of Nevada, officials said. He also had been placed on psychiatric hold in 2022 and 2024, law enforcement sources told CNN. But that may not have necessarily prohibited him from obtaining his license in 2022 or buying firearms – depending on the circumstances of the holds, according to gun law experts. Shane Devon Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, killed four people at the 345 Park Avenue office building and injured anotherbefore he died by suicide,police said. While public health expertscontinue to stressthat the vast majority of people experiencing mental health challenges are not violent, questions remain about the details of Tamura's psychiatric holds and if they would have shown up in a background check. The case underscores the wide gap in sharing mental health data with the federal government – an issue that can be attributed to inadequate funding to manage or require the data, as well as privacy issues, according to Thomas Chittum, former associate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Tamura had "a documented mental health history," according to New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and a previous run-in with law enforcement. Tamura was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing in 2023 in Clark County, Nevada, after he refused to leave a Las Vegas casino after attempting to cash out about $5,000, according to a police incident report. A court database suggests a district attorney declined to pursue the case, meaning the incident wouldn't have prevented him from obtaining a gun. The case also throws private gun sales under the microscope. The AR-15 style weapon used in the shooting was legallypurchased last year by the gunman's supervisorat the Vegas casino where he worked, two law enforcement officials told CNN. The supervisor then assembled it and sold it to Tamura for $1,400, the officials said, citing an interview with the supervisor who is cooperating with authorities. It's not yet clear whether the private sale between Tamura and the supervisor involved a background check. But the supervisor, who has not been named by authorities, could face legal jeopardy if the investigation reveals the firearm transfer took place in Nevada and the private sale didn't follow a state law requiring background checks for private sales, according to Warren Eller, gun violence expert and associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As police work to uncover a motive behind the shooting, investigators are digging into Tamura's history and examining are how he obtained multiple firearms and made his way from Las Vegas to New York City with the assault rifle. A search of the gunman's car turned up a host of items, including additional ammunition, another loaded weapon, headphones potentially used for target practice, two cell phones, the antidepressant Zoloft and cannabis, a law enforcement source told CNN. A note found in the gunman's pocket claimed hehadCTE, a disease linked to head trauma, one that's often associated with football players, a source told CNN. New York City's chief medical examiner's office will test Tamura's remains for CTE, an office spokesperson told CNN Tuesday. The only way to diagnose the disease is through an autopsy of the brain. As for the psychiatric holds, it's difficult to say without knowing the details whether they would have shown up in a background check or prevented Tamura from purchasing weapons, experts say. "If you were on a 48-hour hold, if you were released at the end of that, it would not affect your ability to possess firearms under federal law," Chittum said. Most states barely touch on the area of mental health when a person applies for a gun license due to concerns over privacy issues and stigmatizing people who have mental health issues, according to Eller. One concern, for example, is soldiers who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, might be reluctant to seek help because they fear their treatment history would deprive them of possessing firearms. "Between the lack of funding to make sure the background check system is effective for those problems and the legal hang ups with advocacy groups who will challenge this, that's a long road ahead," Eller said. There's a concerted effort by veterans' groups and advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union to fight against the sharing of mental health records with the National Crime Information Center and local law enforcement, which most states rely on for background checks, according to Eller. "Groups have been combating that because simply being mentally ill doesn't mean you're mentally incompetent, nor does it mean you're a danger," he added. However, in cases where a person was declared incompetent by a court, faced a restraining order, involuntarily committed or deemed a danger to themselves or others due to a mental illness, the federal government restricts firearm ownership and states largely follow federal law with some variations, according to Chittum. "Even when we have someone who has a mental health issue that prohibits them under the law, the next question is whether the background check identifies that. Historically, mental health records have been some of the hardest for FBI to obtain when doing background checks," Chittum said, adding there have been efforts to improve the availability of those records in some legislation. As New York homicide detectives work to piece together a timeline of events leading up to the deadly Manhattan attack, the way Tamura obtained the high-powered M4 rifle from an associate and whether Nevada's background check laws were violated will likely come under scrutiny. In Nevada,the private sale of a firearm between two partiesrequires a federal background check before the transfer is complete. Both individuals must go to a federally licensed firearm dealer, which conducts the background check on their behalf. There are limited exceptions, including firearm transfers between immediate family members, which do not require this process. If the private sale between Tamura and the supervisor did abide by the law and the facts can't prove the supervisor had any knowledge of possible disqualifiers in Tamura's history, including intended use of the firearm, then the seller likely won't be prosecuted, according to Eller and Chittum. Federal law doesn't impose any obligation on private gun sellers to identify the buyer, conduct a background check or keep any record of the sale, Chittum said. The Nevada law enforcing background checks for private sales was implemented in January 2020, closing the so-called "gun show loophole" that gun safety advocates have long criticized as a means for bypassing records checks that can flag past criminal history. Most states conduct background checks through federally licensed dealers relying on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), while some states like Nevada have a designated "point of contact" system that offers access to state criminal history records. Under federal law, an unlicensed person buying a firearm directly from a gun dealer must also undergo a background check, however, those who already have a concealed carry permit – like Tamura had – may be exempt because they would have already undergone a background check to get the permit. Hours after the shooting in Manhattan, Las Vegas Police Crimestoppers received a tip from a licensed firearms dealer saying he remembered Tamura sought to buy anaftermarket trigger assemblyfor an M4 rifle at a Las Vegas gun show in June, a senior law enforcement official told CNN. Tamura returned the trigger assembly the next day, saying he needed the money back to buy 500 rounds of .223 ammunition – the same kind of ammunition used in the New York shooting, according to the official. The gun dealer told police Tamura came back the next day with additional funds and re-purchased the trigger assembly, the official said. Tamura's case calls attention to the "gray area" in the federal regulation and enforcement of private sales that exists when people buy firearms for cash in a private sale, according to Eller. Because a concealed carry permit would exempt an individual for five years from a background check when buying a firearm from a licensed dealer, it creates a "nuanced area" where a person could obtain a license to carry and then subsequently be convicted or have a mental health prohibitor and might still be able to use their card to purchase a firearm and avoid the background check, Chittum said. Some states recognize this issue and routinely run background checks on licensed holders to determine if their license is still valid, Chittum said. Red flag laws, including the one in Nevada, aim to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. But such laws are only effective if the individual demonstrated warning signs so that others can alert law enforcement and initiate the process of revoking the person's firearm, Chittum said. It's not clear if Tamura demonstrated any warning signs that would trigger the state's red flag law. The style of weapon Tamura used to slaughter four peoplehas commonly been seenin some of the nation's deadliest mass shootings and has prompted renewed calls by progressive lawmakers for increased regulation. "In the State of New York, you cannot buy one of these," Gov. Kathy Hochul told CNN on Tuesday, criticizing what she said were "much looser laws in the State of Nevada than we have here." Hochul called on federal lawmakers to pass a national assault weapon ban that would limit access to high-powered guns like the AR-15 style rifle used in Monday's massacre and slammed GOP counterparts whom she accused of being "intimidated by the gun lobby." "We need a national awakening here, people need to be talked about this once again and it shouldn't just happen in the wake of a tragedy like this," said Hochul. CNN's Mark Morales contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik
in
August 02, 2025

The Manhattan shooter had a previous arrest and 2 psychiatric holds, sources say. How was he able to own a gun?

The Manhattan shooter had a previous arrest and 2 psychiatric holds, sources say. How was he able to own a gun? New York City's deadlies...
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