Breaking: Shane Tamura was confirmed as the Manhattan shooter behind the deadly NYC shooting at Blackstone’s 345 Park Avenue office. Victims include top Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner. NYPD and Officer Didarul Islam responded to the active shooter. The incident has reignited concerns over mental health, CTE in former athletes, and gun violence in corporate America. Follow the latest on the Park Avenue shooting, shooter profile, and NYPD updates.
NEW YORK — A deadly mass shooting shattered the morning calm in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, after a gunman armed with an M4-style rifle opened fire inside the global headquarters of financial giant Blackstone. Two people, including a senior Blackstone executive, were killed and an NYPD officer was wounded before the suspect, identified as Shane D. Tamura, was shot and “neutralized” by police.
The New York City shooting took place on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Avenue, a prestigious skyscraper that houses both The Blackstone Group and the NFL Headquarters. The incident triggered a massive law enforcement response, placing a large swath of Midtown NYC on lockdown and sending a panic through one of the world's most prominent financial districts.
The victims of the Manhattan shooting were identified as Wesley LePatner, a respected executive within Blackstone's real estate division, and Julia Hyman, a junior employee and Cornell graduate. The wounded police officer, Didarul Islam, is in stable condition after being shot while responding to the active shooter call.
Investigators are piecing together a motive that appears to be a tragic and violent confluence of grievances against two powerful entities located in the same building. Law enforcement sources confirm that Shane Devon Tamura left behind materials indicating a profound and desperate anger directed at the NFL over a belief that he was suffering from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), a degenerative brain disease associated with football. His presence at the Blackstone offices on the 33rd floor suggests he may have seen the Blackstone company as a symbol of the power structure he raged against.
“The investigation is in its early stages, but the location of the NFL HQ shooting appears highly intentional,” an NYPD official briefed on the matter told NBC News. “The choice of 345 Park Ave. was not random.”
The attack began shortly after 10:00 AM ET. Tamura, wielding an AR-15 style rifle traced to manufacturer Palmetto State Armory, bypassed initial security and made his way to the Blackstone floors. The first 911 calls reported an active shooter at Blackstone, sparking an immediate and overwhelming response. NYPD officers stormed the building, which is managed by Rudin Management, and confronted the NYC gunman. In the ensuing exchange, Officer Islam was hit, and Tamura was fatally shot.
The incident has raised serious questions about security in high-profile corporate towers. Other major tenants, such as KPMG, were forced into lockdown protocols.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at a press briefing, called the event “a horrific act of violence that has stolen two innocent lives.” He added, “We are praying for Officer Islam, a hero who ran toward the gunfire. This is another reminder that the plague of gun violence can strike anywhere, and we must be vigilant.”
The dual nature of the gunman's apparent motive places both Blackstone and the NFL at the center of this tragedy. While Blackstone CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman has yet to issue a formal statement, a spokesperson for the NFL said, “We are horrified by the senseless violence that occurred in our building. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and our colleagues at Blackstone.” The office of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is cooperating fully with the investigation.
This mass shooting in New York now stands as a brutal case study on the cascading impacts of perceived institutional failure, mental health crisis, and the accessibility of high-powered firearms. The investigation will continue to probe Tamura's background, including any potential history in Las Vegas or other locations, to understand the path that led him to commit this terrible act on Park Avenue.