Five dead after shooting at New York skyscraper – as suspect named

A tragic shooting unfolded on Monday evening at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, a prominent skyscraper housing the global headquarters of Blackstone and the National Football League (NFL). The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, entered the building around 6:30 p.m. armed with an M4 assault rifle. He opened fire in the lobby, fatally wounding three individuals, including an off-duty New York City police officer, Didarul Islam, who was working as a security guard at the time. Tamura then proceeded to the 33rd floor, where he killed another person before taking his own life. In total, five people lost their lives in this senseless act of violence.

Authorities have confirmed that Tamura had a documented mental health history, though his exact motive remains unclear. Surveillance footage revealed that he exited a double-parked BMW on Park Avenue, carrying the rifle, before entering the building and initiating the attack. Witnesses described scenes of panic as the gunfire erupted, with many seeking shelter and others attempting to flee the premises.

The victims included Wesley LePatner, a senior executive at Blackstone, and Officer Islam, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant who had served on the NYPD for approximately three and a half years. Islam was married with two young children, and his wife was pregnant with their third child at the time of the incident. The other victims were identified as two men and one woman, all of whom were employees within the building.

In response to the tragedy, Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the need for increased security measures in the city’s business districts. The incident has raised concerns about safety in corporate environments, especially following previous violent events targeting business leaders in the area. The NYPD and other law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack and to prevent future occurrences.

This devastating event has left the New York community in mourning, highlighting the ongoing challenges related to mental health and gun violence. As authorities work to piece together the details of the attack, the focus remains on supporting the victims’ families and ensuring the safety of all residents and workers in the city.