A chilling image circulating online shows the desperate measures taken by office workers as a mass shooting unfolded inside a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday evening.
The photo, which has gone viral, shows more than half a dozen couches and office chairs piled high against a door—used by Blackstone employees in a frantic attempt to barricade themselves inside while a gunman roamed the halls outside.
The tragic shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan left four people dead and several others injured. It began around 6:30 p.m. on July 28.
According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the shooter appeared to be targeting the NFL’s offices within the building but mistakenly took the wrong elevator. The building also houses Blackstone, a major investment firm.
Among the victims was Wesley LePatner, a senior Blackstone executive and mother of two. The company mourned her loss in a statement:
“Words cannot express the devastation we feel,” Blackstone said. “Wesley was brilliant, passionate, warm, and deeply respected. She embodied the best of Blackstone. Our prayers are with her husband, children, and family.”
The New York Police Department also confirmed the death of one of its officers, Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old father of two with a third child on the way.
“He was doing the job we asked him to do. He died a hero,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
No NFL employees were killed in the attack, though the league confirmed that one staff member was seriously injured. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told employees that security would be increased at all league offices moving forward.
Police identified the gunman as Shane Tamura, a Las Vegas native with a history of mental illness. Authorities said Tamura left behind a note claiming he suffered from CTE, the brain disease linked to repeated head trauma often found in football players. He requested his brain be studied and shot himself in the chest during the attack.
The horrific scene and haunting image of barricaded office workers have become symbols of a tragedy that has left two families grieving, a city shaken, and questions looming about workplace safety and mental health.Tools
