Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voiced strong criticism against what he said would be inevitable calls for tighter gun restrictions following a mass shooting in Manhattan.
The Monday night incident left five people shot, including four dead and one NYPD officer among the victims.
Speaking on Fox News Channel’s Hannity, Kennedy dismissed the notion that additional gun laws would help prevent similar tragedies, and instead suggested city leaders should consider reinstating stop-and-frisk policies.
“On Capitol Hill, probably beginning in the morning, there’ll be the inevitable call by some of my colleagues for more gun control laws. We’ve got hundreds of gun control laws, maybe thousands,” Kennedy told host Sean Hannity. “We don’t need more gun control, we need more idiot control.”
🚨FOX NEWS Hannity, John Kennedy We saw evil today pic.twitter.com/yGh76yEQMD
— Dave McQ (@oldmandavemc) July 29, 2025
The Louisiana Republican did acknowledge that he doesn’t “know exactly how to” accomplish that, but was crystal clear on one point.
“I don’t want to hear anyone feeling sorry for this guy who did this,” Kennedy noted. “And there will be some that say, well, he was mixed up. He was confused. He was just sick. His mama or daddy didn’t love him enough.”
“All that may be true. But from the bottom of my heart, I don’t care. I believe there’s objective evil in this world. And we saw it today. And I’m just – I’m just sorry.”
Kennedy also acknowledged the bravery of the first responders who put their lives on the line during the incident.
“I’m sorry for the police officers who were killed or injured. I’m also thankful for those who ran into the danger and away from it. I’m grateful for them,” he said.
“And I’m sorry for the people in New York. This is going to cause them to have to live in further fear.”
The fatal incident unfolded Monday evening when a man wielding what authorities described as a long gun entered the lobby of a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan and opened fire.
Officials said four people were killed, including Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old off-duty NYPD officer originally from Bangladesh who had served with the department for just over three years.
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New York Police Commissioner Jennifer Tisch provided a detailed timeline of the attack during a press briefing.
According to Tisch, calls began flooding the 911 emergency system at 6:28 p.m. reporting an active shooter at 345 Park Avenue, a building that hosts high-profile tenants, including major financial firms and the NFL.
Video footage captured by the building’s security system shows the shooter exiting a black BMW parked just outside the entrance.
“The building security camera footage shows the shooter entering the lobby, turning right, and immediately opening fire at an NYPD officer,” Tisch said.
The gunman then turned his weapon on a woman who had ducked behind a pillar in an attempt to shield herself, followed by firing on a security guard hiding behind the desk. Another man in the lobby was also wounded, Tisch confirmed.
According to the footage, the shooter allowed a woman to exit an elevator before stepping inside himself.
Once on the 33rd floor, he continued firing as he walked through the hallway.
One additional victim was fatally shot on that floor before the gunman took his own life with a self-inflicted shot to the chest, officials said.
Police identified the attacker as Shane Tamura, a Nevada resident. Inside the BMW, authorities found a rifle case, multiple rounds of ammunition, and a revolver.
The vehicle, Tisch said, had made a cross-country journey, passing through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and New Jersey in the days leading up to the incident.
Officials said Tamura acted alone, and although investigators have yet to determine a motive, they noted that law enforcement contacts in Las Vegas had shared Tamura’s history of documented mental health issues.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose district covers parts of Brooklyn, issued a statement shortly after the attack, calling it both “tragic and horrifying” and pointed to what he called a growing national crisis.
“The gun violence epidemic continues to afflict our country and now has shattered lives in our great City. The time has come for decisive action,” Jeffries said, essentially validating Kennedy’s point.
Statement on the Mass Shooting in Midtown Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/SjnQfXOfBj
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 29, 2025
Several New York political figures, all of whom are actively campaigning for the upcoming mayoral election, issued statements addressing the tragedy and thanking law enforcement.
Mayor Eric Adams released a video message from the scene, advising building occupants to shelter in place while officers cleared the building.
I have been on scene at the shooting in Midtown, and we can report the shooter is neutralized.
The NYPD are now searching 345 Park Avenue carefully. If you are in the building, please stay where you are.
People have been shot and injured, and I will soon be going to the… pic.twitter.com/FYcOfuMxg6
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) July 29, 2025
He said multiple individuals had been injured and confirmed that the NYPD was conducting a full investigation.
Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani responded on social media, saying, “I’m heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground.”
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking a return to office under a third-party campaign, also weighed in.
“I’m horrified by the shooting,” he posted on X. “I’m grateful for the courage of our NYPD and first responders, and my prayers are with the victims and their families.”
City officials are continuing to investigate the incident while sifting through surveillance video, reviewing forensic evidence, and tracing the origin of the weapons found in Tamura’s vehicle.
Police have yet to determine how Tamura obtained the M4 rifle used in the attack or whether it was legally purchased.
