On the evening of July 28th in Midtown Manhattan, a large-scale shooting incident took place where four innocent individuals were gunned down. Following this tragic event, New York State Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis issued a warning for New Yorkers to remain vigilant of their surroundings.
As the only Republican Assemblywoman representing New York City, Malliotakis cautioned that while this incident appears to be “isolated,” little is known about the factors that led to it. She emphasized that this is another example of the dangerous world we live in today.
According to reports from Fox News, Malliotakis stated, “This doesn’t look like a random attack. There seemed to be a motive for him to go into that building. But everyone must remain vigilant. I mean, we know that in the world post-9/11, we always need to remain vigilant, stay alert, and report anything suspicious.”
The gunman, Shane Tamura, harbored grievances towards the National Football League (NFL) and football in general, leading to the fatal shooting incident.
She described the situation as “alarming.”
Malliotakis expressed heartbreak for the families of the police officer and others who lost their lives in the incident. People leave their homes, go to work, live their lives as usual, only to never return. She emphasized that while this is shocking and heartbreaking, it also serves as a reminder of how fragile life is, underscoring the need for vigilance within our community and nation. Anything can happen at any moment.
Around 6:28 pm on July 28th, the police received reports of a shooting at 345 Park Avenue building on Manhattan Park Avenue. Witnesses had previously seen the 27-year-old gunman, Tamura, stepping out of a black BMW parked between 51st and 52nd streets, armed with an M4 rifle. The building at 345 Park Avenue houses the offices of the NFL and financial company Blackstone Group.
After entering the lobby, the gunman turned right and shot 36-year-old officer Didarul Islam, then proceeded to shoot a woman hiding behind a pillar in the lobby – she was Wesley LePatner, an executive at Blackstone Group. The gunman fired more shots before heading towards the elevator area, where he shot security guard Aland Etienne who was crouched behind a desk. Another man in the lobby was also shot but only sustained injuries and is in stable condition.
Moving towards the elevator, a woman emerged unharmed as the gunman entered the elevator, going up to the 33rd floor, the office of Rudin Properties, the building’s owner. He walked between floors, firing shots. Julia Hyman, a 27-year-old employee at Rudin Management, was shot on the 33rd floor, after which the gunman shot himself in the chest.
Investigators believe Tamura intended to shoot at the NFL office located on floors 5-8 of the building. In a messy handwritten note, he claimed to have suffered brain damage due to playing football in high school.
New York City Police Commissioner Tisch stated that the gunman, who resided in Las Vegas, was believed to have a “documented history of mental health issues.”