NEW YORK, NY — Julia Hyman, a 26-year-old Cornell University graduate and associate at Rudin Management, was among the four victims killed in a devastating mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, July 28, 2025. The attack, which unfolded during rush hour, has left the city reeling as authorities piece together the motives and circumstances behind one of the deadliest shootings in New York City in over two decades.

The shooting began shortly after 6:30 p.m. when 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, a Las Vegas resident, entered the lobby of the 44-story office tower armed with an M4-style rifle. Surveillance footage captured Tamura exiting a double-parked black BMW and immediately opening fire, killing off-duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was working a security detail, and a woman taking cover in the lobby. Tamura then shot security guard Aland Etienne near the elevator bank before boarding an elevator, where he allowed a woman to exit unharmed. He ascended to the 33rd floor, occupied by Rudin Management, where he fatally shot Hyman before dying by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators believe Tamura intended to target the National Football League’s headquarters, located on the fifth floor of the building, but mistakenly took the wrong elevator bank, leading him to Rudin Management’s offices. A three-page handwritten note found in Tamura’s wallet expressed grievances against the NFL, alleging the league concealed the dangers of football-related brain injuries to maximize profits. The note referenced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma, and included a plea to “study my brain please. I’m sorry.” It also mentioned former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Terry Long, who died by suicide in 2005, with football-related brain injuries cited as a contributing factor. Tamura, a former high school football player in Los Angeles, did not play professionally but claimed in the note that football caused his mental health struggles.

The other victims included Wesley LePatner, 43, a senior managing director at Blackstone and Global Head of Core+ Real Estate, and Aland Etienne, a security guard and member of the 32BJ SEIU union. A fifth victim, an NFL employee, was critically injured but reported to be in stable condition as of Tuesday morning. The Rudin family, owners of 345 Park Avenue, issued a statement mourning the loss: “The Rudin family and everyone at our company are devastated by yesterday’s senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and lost last night, including our cherished Rudin colleague, a brave New York City police officer, a beloved lobby security guard, and an employee at a tenant firm.”

Blackstone, a major tenant in the building, confirmed LePatner’s death, stating, “We are heartbroken to share that our colleague, Wesley LePatner, was among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at 345 Park Avenue. Words cannot express the devastation we feel. Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed.” The 32BJ SEIU union honored Etienne, with president Manny Pastreich declaring, “Aland Etienne is a New York hero. We will remember him as such,” while offering counseling to affected members.

The NFL, another prominent tenant, confirmed one employee was seriously injured and emphasized increased security measures in a memo from Commissioner Roger Goodell: “As has been widely reported, a gunman committed an unspeakable act of violence in our building at 345 Park Avenue. One of our employees was seriously injured in this attack. He is currently in the hospital and in stable condition.” Other tenants, including KPMG, closed their offices on Tuesday, expressing condolences: “Our hearts are with the victims of this horrific act and their families, as well as all of our neighbors in 345 Park.”

Tamura, who had a documented history of mental health issues, drove cross-country from Las Vegas, with his vehicle tracked through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Columbia, New Jersey, before arriving in New York City on Monday afternoon. Police found a rifle case, a loaded revolver, ammunition, magazines, a backpack, and prescribed medication in his vehicle. Tamura held a concealed carry permit issued in Las Vegas in 2022 and had a misdemeanor trespassing charge in 2023. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner is testing Tamura’s brain for CTE as part of his autopsy, as the disease can only be diagnosed posthumously.

The shooting sparked widespread panic in Midtown, with office workers barricading themselves in pantries and behind furniture. Witnesses described hearing rapid gunfire and seeing people fleeing the building. New York City Mayor Eric Adams noted that a security guard attempted to activate an alarm to disable the elevators but was killed before he could do so. Governor Kathy Hochul called for a national assault weapons ban, emphasizing New York’s strict gun laws while noting the challenges posed by weapons brought from other states.

As law enforcement continues to investigate, questions remain about how Tamura bypassed security measures at 345 Park Avenue, a high-rise with robust protocols, including an off-duty NYPD officer and an alarm system. The NYPD, in collaboration with federal partners, is executing search warrants and tracing the origins of Tamura’s firearms. The tragedy has reignited debates over gun control, with public officials like Representative Jerrold Nadler and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemning the epidemic of gun violence in America.

The city mourns the loss of Officer Didarul Islam, a father of two with a third child on the way, Julia Hyman, a promising young professional, Wesley LePatner, a respected financial executive, and Aland Etienne, a dedicated security guard. As investigations continue, New Yorkers stand united in grief and resilience, grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.