NYC attacker had mental health crisis interventions, could still legally have a gun

By Martin Kaste

Published August 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM PDT

The man who killed four people in New York City had a history of mental health issues, including two commitments to treatment initiated by Las Vegas police. But legally, he was still allowed to buy guns.

Martin Kaste

Martin Kaste is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers law enforcement and privacy. He has been focused on police and use of force since before the 2014 protests in Ferguson, and that coverage led to the creation of NPR's Criminal Justice Collaborative.

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