NYC Office Shooting, Trump In Scotland, Gaza Aid Latest

Summary

Up First from NPR – July 29, 2025

Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, A Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, Scott Simon

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1. NYC Office Shooting

Overview: A tragic shooting unfolded in a Manhattan skyscraper, resulting in multiple casualties and leaving the city in mourning.

Incident Details: At [00:02], Amy Martinez reports that security cameras captured an armed man entering a lobby in Manhattan. Steve Inskeep elaborates at [00:06], stating, “He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire.” The initial identification of the shooter was questioned by Sarah Ventri at [00:13], asking, “Who was the Las Vegas man holding the gun?”

Investigation Insights: By [02:08], Sarah Ventri reconnects with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch from New York City. Tisch provides a detailed account:

• The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, entered the building with a military-style M4 rifle ([03:43]).
• During the attack, Tamura killed NYPD Officer Dideroul Islam ([05:09]), a 36-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh, who was working off-duty as security for the building.
• The shooter ultimately killed himself on the 33rd floor, as confirmed by NYPD Commissioner Tisch ([03:31]).

Casualties and Motive: As of [03:37], four individuals, including the gunman, are confirmed dead. The motive remains unclear, with Tisch noting, “There really is no known motive” ([04:26]). Authorities are investigating his recent travels across the country and any possible connections to the building, which houses NFL offices.

Community Impact: Steve Inskeep solemnly remarks at [04:48], “Our city is in mourning for the innocent lives lost. May their memories be a blessing,” reflecting the community's grief and the ongoing investigation.

2. President Trump in Scotland

Trip Overview: President Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland was marked by both diplomatic engagements and recreational activities, amidst mixed local reactions.

Meetings and Golf: At [06:12], Lauren Freyr from Aberdeen, Scotland, reports that Trump met with Scotland's First Minister John Sweeney for a brief session before heading to the golf course. The president played a round of golf at his newly established course dedicated to his mother, Mary McLeod ([06:15]). Local residents expressed discontent, noting that the course disrupts their access to a pristine beach and has not significantly boosted local employment ([06:21]).

Trade Deal with the European Union: During a press briefing, Trump announced a new trade framework imposing a 15% tariff on European goods entering the United States ([07:04]). Lauren Freyr explains at [07:17], “The EU is the world's biggest single trading bloc, and it's now facing significant U.S. tariffs. This is kind of a blueprint for what could be coming,” highlighting Trump’s intent to apply similar tariffs globally ([07:36]).

Trump further stated, “[07:36] **‘To charge, I would say in the range of 15 to 20%, probably one of those two numbers.’” This marks an increase from the previously announced 10% baseline tariff ([07:44]).

Economic Implications: The implementation of these tariffs has caused the euro to fall over 1% against the dollar ([08:10]). Economists warn that American consumers may face increased prices for foreign goods, reaching levels unseen since the 1930s ([08:17]). In response, Trump asserts the tariffs are essential for boosting domestic industries and generating revenue ([08:29]).

3. Gaza Aid Latest

Humanitarian Efforts: Amid ongoing conflict, Israel has loosened restrictions to allow food and aid into Gaza, but the efforts remain insufficient. Emily Fang from Tel Aviv explains at [10:14] that over 300 trucks of food have entered Gaza in the last two days, a mere fraction of the humanitarian aid needed to address widespread malnutrition.

Challenges in Aid Delivery: Anas Baba, NPR’s producer in Gaza, reports significant difficulties in tracking aid deliveries due to irregular delivery times and immediate looting upon arrival ([10:26]). Israel’s military maintains that the blockade is not the issue, attributing delivery challenges to aid organizations ([10:45]).

International Concerns: A UN-backed expert panel issued an alert at [11:40], highlighting a worst-case scenario of famine in Gaza, driven by acute malnutrition affecting at least 30% of children ([11:47]). Despite this, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denies the existence of starvation, asserting that Israel is making concerted efforts to deliver humanitarian aid ([12:14]).

Israeli Public Debate: The situation has sparked division within Israel regarding the objectives of the conflict and the reality of hunger in Gaza. For the first time, Israeli human rights organizations have labeled Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, and mainstream media has begun to showcase harrowing images of starving children ([13:00]).

Conclusion

The episode of Up First from NPR on July 29, 2025, delves into three major stories:

1. NYC Office Shooting: A detailed account of the tragic incident, investigation updates, and the impact on the community.
2. President Trump in Scotland: Coverage of Trump's trade policies, tariff announcements, and the mixed reception in Scotland.
3. Gaza Aid Latest: An exploration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the challenges in aid delivery, and the international and local responses.

Through engaging reporting and insightful analysis, the episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these pivotal events shaping the day.

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Notable Quotes:

• Steve Inskeep [00:06]: “He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire.”
• Jessica Tisch [04:26]: “There really is no known motive.”
• Donald Trump [07:36]: “To charge, I would say in the range of 15 to 20%, probably one of those two numbers.”
• Donald Trump [08:29]: “It's worth it to boost domestic US industries and raise revenue.”

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Produced By: Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Hannah Block, Janaya Williams, Alice Wolfley
Production Team: Ziad Bach, Ben Abrams, Christopher Thomas
Engineering Support: Stacy Abbott
Technical Director: Carly Lestrange

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Support NPR: Subscribe to Up First+ for sponsor-free listening and support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.

Transcript

[Amy Martinez]

Security cameras captured an armed man walking into a lobby in Manhattan.

[Steve Inskeep]

He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire.

[Sarah Ventri]

Who was the Las Vegas man holding the gun?

[Amy Martinez]

I'm Amy Martinez with Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. President Trump responds to televised images of desperate people in Gaza.

[Donald Trump]

We can save a lot of people. I mean, some of those kids are. That's real starvation stuff. I see it. And you can't fake that.

[Amy Martinez]

He talked of setting up food centers. What could the United States do differently?

[Sarah Ventri]

Also, how did the world respond to a trade deal? American businesses get added access to European markets. American importers face the highest tariffs in close to a century. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day foreign.

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Sarah Ventri]

An image from a security camera shows a man in New York City. He's walking across a plaza toward the doors of a skyscraper on Park Avenue.

[Amy Martinez]

The man is wearing a blazer, striding in a businesslike manner and looks unremarkable except for the rifle he's holding at his side.

[Sarah Ventri]

NPR Sarah Ventri is on the line from New York City to help us understand what happened next. Sarah, good morning.

[Jessica Tisch]

Good morning, Steve.

[Sarah Ventri]

So we have that image that's in the middle of the sequence you're about to give us. What happened?

[Jessica Tisch]

Well, according to the nypd, the gunman got out of his car. It was a double parked BMW. He was carrying a military style M4 rifle. He walked into that building on Park Avenue. This was, remember, in the middle of rush hour in one of the busiest and most crowded parts of the city. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke at a press briefing and explained what happened next.

[Steve Inskeep]

The building security camera footage shows the shooter enter the lobby, turn right, and immediately open fire on an NYPD officer. He then shoots a woman who took cover behind a pillar and proceeds through the lobby, spraying it with gunfire.

[Jessica Tisch]

From there, he went to get on an elevator, but a woman was coming off as he was getting on, and he actually let her walk away. Then he made his way to the 33rd floor, where authorities say he shot and killed himself. Mayor Eric Adams said, quote, no words can describe this act of evil.

[Sarah Ventri]

And just confirming the toll as we know it now, is it four dead and the gunman killed himself. Is that correct?

[Jessica Tisch]

Yes, that's correct.

[Sarah Ventri]

Okay, who is this person? Who was this gunman? What was he doing in New York?

[Jessica Tisch]

Police identified him as 27 year old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas. He was licensed to carry firearms. When police searched his vehicle, they also found a handgun, more ammunition, and prescription medication. Authorities say he'd been driving across the country leading up to the shootings. He was tracked in Colorado two days beforehand, then in Nebraska, Iowa, and finally yesterday in New Jersey. Before coming into New York City. He was a star high school football player. And we should note that the building where this happened also houses the offices of the NFL. But at this point, we really don't know if there's any connection.

[Sarah Ventri]

So many leads to pursue there. What, if anything, have authority said about a motive?

[Jessica Tisch]

Well, at this point, not a lot. It's still very early in the investigation. NYPD Commissioner Tish said there really is no known motive. She also said that law enforcement in Las Vegas told the NYPD that the suspect had a documented mental health history. But the FBI said that their initial checks showed no information about the subject.

[Steve Inskeep]

There are still many questions that we have to answer, and we will answer them. But for now, our city is in mourning for the innocent lives lost. May their memories be a blessing.

[Jessica Tisch]

And really, everyone is still trying to understand why he drove across the country, why he chose this building, and really why this happened.

[Sarah Ventri]

Who are some of the people that he shot?

[Jessica Tisch]

Well, so far, authorities have only identified one person by name. That's the NYPD officer who was killed. His name is Dideroul Islam. He was 36 and had been on the force for three and a half years. He was wearing his uniform, but he was working off duty. As security for the building. We know that he was an immigrant from Bangladesh. He was married with two kids, and his wife is pregnant with their third child. Mayor Eric Adams described him as a person of faith and a true blue New Yorker. But as the investigation continues, there are still many unanswered questions.

[Sarah Ventri]

NPR's Sarah Ventri in New York. Thanks so much.

[Jessica Tisch]

Thanks, Steve.

[Sarah Ventri]

President Trump departs Scotland later today.

[Amy Martinez]

He's played some golf and also made some news. He announced a new framework for US Trade with the European Union and what could be a major recalibration of U.S. policy toward Gaza.

[Sarah Ventri]

NPR's Lauren Freyr has been covering the president's trip and joins us now from Aberdeen, Scotland. Hi there, Lauren.

[Lauren Freyr]

Hi, Steve.

[Sarah Ventri]

What have you been seeing through the day?

[Lauren Freyr]

So Trump met this morning with Scotland's top official, First Minister John Sweeney, for about 15 or 20 minutes. And then today is all about one of the president's favorite pastimes, golf. He's playing first round on a new golf course he owns on the North Sea coast of Scotland, a course that's dedicated to his mother, Mary McLeod, who happens to have been born and raised in Scotland. I got up to the golf course, visited some neighbors around there who say the course severs their access to a stretch of pristine beach, that it hasn't brought as many jobs as they hoped for their community. And basically this is kind of representative of the welcome or lack thereof. Trump got here mostly resistance from locals, and he's met with protesters or been met with protesters in pretty much every city he's visited. But he also has managed to get a lot of work done here.

[Sarah Ventri]

Let's talk about some of that work then. 15% tariff now on European goods sent to the United States in a deal that we discussed yesterday, although many details are still unknown. What does it mean for Trump's over overall tariff policy?

[Lauren Freyr]

Well, the EU is the world's biggest single trading bloc, and it's now facing significant U.S. tariffs. And this is kind of a blueprint for what could be coming. Trump has been talking here in Scotland about blanket global tariffs for other countries with which he has yet to make trade deals. And he describes the rates he wants.

[Donald Trump]

To charge, I would say in the range of 15 to 20%, probably one of those two numbers.

[Lauren Freyr]

Now, this is higher than a baseline 10% tariff Trump announced back in April. The president says he's going to impose this new baseline tariff of 15 to 20% on what he described as essentially the rest of the world because he said, quote, you can't sit down and make 200 different deals. And this is for countries where Trump has not already specified higher tariffs. He set this Friday, August 1st, as a new tariff deadline for dozens of countries, including Canada and Mexico.

[Sarah Ventri]

How are people responding?

[Lauren Freyr]

Well, the euro currency fell more than 1% against the dollar. France and Germany, the two largest economies in the EU, both expressed concerns about this deal for Americans. Economists say they'll be paying more for foreign goods than any other time since the 1930s. But Trump says it's worth it to boost domestic US industries and raise revenue.

[Sarah Ventri]

I noticed that he also spoke about the Middle east yesterday when talking with reporters. What came out of that?

[Lauren Freyr]

Yeah, he spoke about starvation in Gaza in a way that he really hasn't before. And he contradicted his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu has said there is no starvation in Gaza. But here is what Trump told reporters.

[Donald Trump]

We can save a lot of people. I mean, some of those kids are. That's real starvation stuff. I see it. And you can't fake that.

[Lauren Freyr]

Trump kept repeating, we gotta get those kids fed. And he said the US Would set up food centers in Gaza.

[Sarah Ventri]

The US has already been involved in various efforts there. This sounds like a rebuke of Netanyahu.

[Lauren Freyr]

Absolutely. I mean, Trump said this while sitting next to Prime Minister of the UK Keir Starmer, who's been weighing whether to follow France's lead and recognize a Palestinian state. Trump said he doesn't mind if Starmer does that. Now that's something Netanyahu opposes. That Netanyahu has said rewards terror. Netanyahu has said that a Palestinian state would be used to annihilate Israel. And so Trump rebuked Netanyahu and also kind of gave a tacit nod to a boost for the Palestinians.

[Sarah Ventri]

NPR's Lauren Freyr in Aberdeen, Scotland. Thanks.

[NPR Sponsor]

You're welcome.

[Sarah Ventri]

Now for a third day, Israel will be trucking aid and allowing airdrops of some food into Gaza.

[Amy Martinez]

Yeah, it's letting that food enter during daily 10 hour pauses in the fighting against Hamas militants. Is that food aid though? Enough?

[Sarah Ventri]

NPR's Emily Fang is in Tel Aviv. Hi there, Emily.

[Emily Fang]

Hey, Steve.

[Sarah Ventri]

So how has the global attention, the really difficult to watch images out of Gaza the last few days affected Israel. Israel's approach to the situation, most immediately.

[Emily Fang]

It'S led Israel to loosen its restrictions on Gaza. So on Sunday, about more than 100 trucks of food entered. Yesterday, Israel said more than 200 trucks of food and aid entered. That is, however, a fraction of what aid organizations say they have ready to cross into Gaza and what one called a drop in the ocean of what they say Palestinians need in order to make a dent in the levels of malnutrition across the Gaza Strip. We have a producer in Gaza, NPR's Anas Baba, he's been trying to track every truck of food crossing into Gaza. And that's been difficult because these deliveries, he says, come at irregular hours and there's relatively little of it. So every aid truck he's been able to see is immediately looted. He's witnessed the strongest swarming these trucks that come in and taking the food before it can reach the weakest people in Gaza. Israel's military has said repeatedly the problem is not that they're blocking more food from going in, but that it's aid organizations who cannot deliver that food. So we've been reaching out to every aid organization who say it's Israel's military that's making it difficult and unsafe for them to drive and deliver that food into Gaza. And so aid organizations are continuing to call for all land crossings into Gaza to open. There's just one open right now and.

[Sarah Ventri]

For a ceasefire given the discussion of starvation. Prime Minister Netanyahu saying there's no starvation, President Trump saying, obviously there is. What are the experts saying?

[Emily Fang]

So there was a group of UN Backed experts today that issued an alert this morning saying, quote, the worst case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip. It did not outright declare a famine, but they said they're going to conduct a new analysis without delay on updated data. And they warned that without immediate action there would be more deaths due to malnutrition in Gaza. In order for this panel to reach what they called the famine threshold, which is the worst degree on the standardized scale of hunger that people use. That means they found at least 30% of children in Gaza are experiencing acute malnutrition. But a caveat, they use data on, on malnutrition that was collected up to four days ago. So that's before Israel started letting in more food. But the fact that this panel felt that it was necessary to issue this alert at this particular time shows how dire the situation has become. And Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was asked this morning about starvation in Gaza after this alert went out. And he told reporters, quote, the reality is the opposite. And he said Israel's been working hard to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

[Sarah Ventri]

How are Israelis debating what's happening there?

[Emily Fang]

The issue of Gaza has really divided Israelis. Many of them at this point disagree on what the ultimate aim of Israel's war in Gaza is, and they're now debating whether hunger in Gaza is real. We've reported it is, and we stand by that reporting. But what has changed a bit in the Israeli mainstream is before, very little news or images about Gaza made it into mainstream Israeli media. But yesterday, for the first time, two Israeli human rights organizations said Israel's war in Gaza amounts to a genocide. And this month, images of hungry, starving children are being shown on some outlets. It's a limited change, but it is a change nonetheless.

[Sarah Ventri]

And Pierce, Emily Fang, thanks so much.

[Emily Fang]

Thanks.

[Sarah Ventri]

And that's Up first for this Tuesday, July 29th. I'm Steve Inskeep and Ame Martinez.

[Amy Martinez]

Thanks for listening to Up First. You can find more conversation about the stories we covered today on NPR's Morning Edition. That is the radio show. That's Stevenski, Layla Fadel, Michelle Martin and I host. You can find Morning Edition on your local NPR [e-mail] you know, it's my.

[Sarah Ventri]

Turn to give the credits a. And I like that. I like giving credits. Today's up first was edited by Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Hannah Block, Janaya Williams and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott. And our technical director is Carly Lestrange. Oh, that's Carly Strange. Join us tomorrow.

[NPR Sponsor]

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