Flags across New York are flying at half-staff to honor the victims of Monday’s deadly Midtown office shooting. On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams ordered the tribute to continue until all four victims—including an NYPD officer—are laid to rest. A fifth person remains in critical condition. The shooting occurred at 345 Park Avenue, an office building with tenants like Rudin Management, Blackstone, and the National Football League.
“The violence we witnessed at the hands of this individual is sickening, unacceptable and it must stop here,” Hochul said. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and we must confront this violence head on. My heart is with our neighbors in Manhattan, the victims and their families — as well as the brave men and women of the NYPD.”
The tragedy marked the highest death toll from a single shooting in New York City since 2000, the New York Times reported.
According to CBS News, the officer—36-year-old Didarul Islam—had served on the force for three-and-a-half years and was working as a security guard for a private company at the time of the shooting. A resident of the Parkchester neighborhood in the Bronx, Islam was an immigrant from Bangladesh, a husband, and father of two, with a third child on the way.
A dignified transfer was held overnight for Islam, attended by community members, elected officials, and local leaders who lined the street with their hands to their hearts as the fallen officer was taken away in an ambulance.
The suspect, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, reportedly drove from Las Vegas to Manhattan before entering the building with an M4 rifle. Authorities say he killed four people and critically wounded another before taking his own life.
On Tuesday, Mayor Adams said Tamura appeared to target the NFL’s headquarters, leaving behind a note claiming he had CTE, a brain injury often linked to football, according to CBS. The critically-injured victim is an NFL employee.
According to law enforcement in Las Vegas, Tamura has a documented history of mental illness. Prescription medications were also found in his car. Adams said the city is sending two teams to Las Vegas to execute a search warrant and trace the two firearms recovered at the scene as part of the ongoing investigation into the suspect’s motive, as reported by the New York Times.
Blackstone on Tuesday confirmed that one of its employees, Wesley LePatner, was among those killed in the shooting. In a statement, the company described her as “brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond,” adding that “she embodied the best of Blackstone.”
Aland Etienne, a security guard at the building, was also killed.
“This tragedy speaks to the sacrifice of security officers who risk their lives every day to keep New Yorkers and our buildings safe,” Manny Pastreich, president of the 32BJ SEIU union, said in a statement.
“Every time a security officer puts on their uniform, they put their lives on the line. Their contributions to our city are essential, though often unappreciated. Aland Etienne is a New York hero. We will remember him as such.”
Adams announced that a multi-faith vigil will take place on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Bryant Park Fountain Terrace.
Get Insider Updates with Our Newsletter!
