What started as a normal, even glamorous, day of filming in New York City quickly took a dark and tragic turn just a few blocks away.
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway were back together on Monday shooting the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada — this time joined by Stanley Tucci — when news broke of a mass shooting that happened nearby in Midtown Manhattan.
The trio had been filming earlier that day at 1221 Avenue of the Americas.
What they didn’t know was that, just a 15-minute walk away, a devastating shooting would unfold only a few hours later.
Filming Continued as Tragedy Loomed Close By
According to reports, the cast had wrapped up scenes at least three hours before the shooting began.
The set remained calm, unaware of the violence that was about to erupt.
Reps for Streep, Hathaway, and Tucci were contacted but have not commented on how close they were to the tragedy.
Filming is ongoing for the sequel to the 2006 fashion classic, where Hathaway’s Andrea Sachs famously battled her way through the fashion world under the icy reign of Miranda Priestly, played by Streep.
Tucci also returns as the ever-charismatic art director, Nigel.
Gunfire Erupts at 345 Park Avenue
Later that same day, at around 6:30 p.m., chaos broke out just blocks away.
A gunman, later identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, stormed into the lobby of 345 Park Avenue — the location of Blackstone’s headquarters — and opened fire with a rifle equipped with a silencer.
The attack left four people dead, including a police officer.
Around 30 people were inside the building when Tamura began his rampage, according to CNN.
The rifle was described as being outfitted with a scope and strap — clearly prepared for destruction.
Shooter Found Dead on Upper Floor
After the initial shots were fired in the lobby, police quickly responded.
Tamura was eventually found on the 33rd floor, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later confirmed the details and declared that the “lone shooter has been neutralized” and the scene fully contained.
Witness Accounts Paint a Chilling Picture
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying. One person told the New York Post that the sound of gunfire was overwhelming — “like a barrage of shots… like an automatic weapon.”
Another added, “a guy came in with an assault rifle and started shooting.”
Shocking videos shared on social media showed officers storming the building in tactical gear.
In another clip, emergency responders could be seen rushing a wounded person away from the scene.
Others Taken Into Custody Amid Confusion
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police took two individuals into custody.
One of them, a woman with a head injury, was accompanied by a man who allegedly yelled, “Free Palestine, I’m not the active shooter.”
It’s unclear what connection, if any, these individuals had to the shooter.
Investigators Probe Gunman’s Motive
Authorities have been digging into Tamura’s background and trying to determine a possible motive.
NBC News sources say investigators are considering whether he may have been targeting the NFL offices, which are located within the same building.
Tamura grew up in Hawaii and once played football in high school.
According to CNN, he exchanged gunfire with NYPD officer Islam in the lobby before heading to the 33rd floor for what law enforcement sources are calling his “last stand.”
Law Enforcement and Officials React
In the hours following the attack, leaders and officials across the city responded.
FBI agents arrived on the scene, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the events.
Attorney General Letitia James posted that she was “praying for our law enforcement and the New Yorkers impacted.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also showed up at the site and confirmed he would be visiting the hospital where victims were being treated.
Company in the Building Issues Statement
KPMG, a financial services firm with offices inside 345 Park Avenue, released a public statement expressing condolences.
“Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families,” they said, also praising the bravery of security and police who responded to the shooting.
A Day of Contrasts in Manhattan
It was a day that starkly showed two different faces of New York City — the bright lights and camera flashes of a beloved movie sequel being filmed, just a few blocks from a devastating act of violence that claimed innocent lives.
As the investigation into Tamura’s actions continues, the city — and the world — will no doubt be left reflecting on how quickly a day of normalcy can descend into horror.