What was meant to be a simple after-work drink among colleagues turned into a horrifying evening no one at 345 Park Avenue will ever forget.
On Monday, a mass shooting erupted in the heart of Manhattan, claiming four lives—among them, 43-year-old Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, a mother of two, who had just stepped into the lobby of her office building.
Gunman Opens Fire Inside a High-Security Skyscraper
LePatner was leaving work to meet a friend when she was gunned down by 27-year-old Shane Tamura, who launched a deadly shooting spree inside the high-rise building.
The attack unfolded in the lobby of the building, which also houses major companies including the NFL headquarters.
Witnesses say LePatner tried to hide behind a pillar for safety, but Tamura spotted her and fired.
The senseless attack also killed off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam, security guard Aland Etienne, and Julia Hyman—a young employee with Rudin Management.
A Colleague Walks into the Scene of Horror
According to the Wall Street Journal, the friend who was supposed to meet LePatner arrived shortly after the shooting and was faced with the unimaginable: her colleague’s lifeless body on the lobby floor.
Another Blackstone employee narrowly escaped danger.
She had been heading down to pick up a DoorDash delivery when her driver sent a warning message about an active shooter.
Reacting quickly, she found a secure room that required keycard access and barricaded herself inside, along with other employees.
Inside One of Midtown’s Most Secure Buildings
This horrifying attack didn’t just take lives—it shattered the sense of safety in one of Midtown Manhattan’s most fortified towers.
With panic rooms, off-duty police officers, and strict access protocols, the 345 Park Avenue skyscraper was supposed to be impenetrable.
So how did Tamura manage to get in, open fire, and cause so much damage?
Shooter Possibly Intended to Target the NFL
Investigators believe Tamura’s rage may have been directed at the NFL, which has offices in the building.
However, he apparently took the wrong elevator and exited on the 33rd floor, where Rudin Management is located.
There, he fatally shot Julia Hyman before turning the gun on himself.
Police later found a disturbing note on Tamura’s body.
In it, he blamed football-related brain trauma—specifically CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy—for his mental health struggles.
Shooter Leaves Disturbing Message About CTE
The note referenced Terry Long, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player who died by suicide in 2006 after suffering from CTE. Tamura wrote:
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze.
You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you. Study my brain please. I’m sorry. Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.”
His writings seemed to be both a cry for help and a final act of defiance against the NFL’s handling of head trauma and its long-debated link to CTE in former players.
The Chaos Inside as Alarms Blared
Many workers in the building were just wrapping up their day when alarms suddenly went off.
Two messages followed—one advising evacuation, then another instructing people to shelter in place.
That switch only added to the confusion and fear.
KPMG tax associate Jon Ferrer shared that at first, he didn’t take the alarm seriously—until a colleague told him an active shooter was in the building.
“My heart sank to my stomach,” Ferrer said.
He and others barricaded themselves in a partner’s office, anxiously waiting for the all-clear.
Security Experts Left Searching for Answers
The incident has raised major concerns about building safety—even in places deemed ultra-secure.
Michael Balboni, a former Homeland Security adviser for New York state, said the randomness of the attack made it almost impossible to anticipate or defend against.
“The random selection of this target is impossible to predict and really, really difficult to defend against,” he told the New York Post.
“Did he know he could come into a Class A building like this and just spray the building? That’s very unlikely.”
An Entire City in Shock and Grief
The attack has left a scar not only on those who work in the building but across all of Midtown.
For many, the unthinkable happened right in what they thought was one of the safest places in the city.
In just a few short minutes, a man with a gun tore apart families, shook a community, and exposed painful questions about mental health, workplace security, and the long-term effects of head trauma in sports.
