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Manhattan massacre: Blackstone executive among victims, shooter targeted NFL headquarters but took wrong elevator

A Blackstone executive was among four victims killed when gunman Shane Tamura targeted NFL headquarters in Manhattan but took the wrong elevator.

Manhattan massacre: Blackstone executive among victims, shooter targeted NFL headquarters but took wrong elevator
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As authorities continue their investigation into the attack on a New York skyscraper in Manhattan, carried out by 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, the identities of two of the four victims have been revealed. According to international media reports, among the dead is a female Blackstone employee, specifically a company executive, who was killed Monday evening in Manhattan when a gunman opened fire.

The company’s statement reads: “It is with great sadness that we announce that our colleague, Wesley Lepatner, was among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at the skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue. The pain we feel cannot be expressed in words. Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be deeply missed.” In the same statement, Lepatner is described as “brilliant, passionate, warm, generous,” with the grief over her loss being indescribable.

Also among the victims is 36-year-old police officer Didaroul Islam, who was working security at the time. The other three victims have not yet been identified.






It’s worth noting that according to New York’s mayor, the Manhattan shooter took the wrong elevator after moving through the building’s lobby. New York Mayor Eric Adams stated Tuesday that the gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building was attempting to reach the National Football League (NFL) headquarters but took the wrong elevator.

Authorities believe Shane Tamura was trying to reach the NFL offices after the shooting in the building’s lobby, but accidentally entered a different elevator, Adams said.

Manhattan massacre: Who was the gunman who spread death in the skyscraper

According to what has been revealed so far, Tamura entered 345 Park Avenue, a massive building, around 6:00 PM (local time), then opened fire with the assault rifle he was carrying and killed 3 men – including a police officer – and one woman. Another man who was seriously wounded by the 27-year-old’s gunfire at the skyscraper entrance is now hospitalized and out of danger.

This building houses, among others, the organizational body of the professional American football league (NFL) and financial sector giant Blackstone.

The 27-year-old perpetrator, after spreading death, turned the weapon on himself and committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, with authorities finding him dead on the 33rd floor. American media published a photograph from a surveillance camera showing the young man with a mustache, beard, and sunglasses, walking alone in dark clothing, carrying an assault rifle with the barrel pointed toward the ground in his right hand.

As an eyewitness to the attack told the French Press Agency: “I was inside the building, he was going from floor to floor.”

The note that sheds light on the motive – What it says about the NFL and CTE disease

A multi-page note was found on the perpetrator’s body, which appears to contain clues about the motive for the shocking attack. According to the New York Post, the 27-year-old referenced the NFL in his writings. Specifically, he blamed his football past for his battle with the degenerative brain disease CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which is linked to exposure to repeated head trauma.

Tamura also requested in the same note that his brain be studied after death, according to newspaper sources.

It should be noted that the NFL offices are located on floors 5 through 8 of the Park Avenue skyscraper, however Tamura took the elevator to the 33rd floor, where he committed suicide after the attack.

With a history of psychological problems

The perpetrator, according to police, had a history of psychological problems. His permanent residence was in Las Vegas, where he had worked for a time as casino security, while during his school years he had distinguished himself in California as a talented football player.

Former classmates expressed shock at the news that he was the perpetrator of the deadly attack. “I never imagined he could be connected to any incident of violence. He was always cheerful and had a great sense of humor,” said his former classmate Caleb Clark. His former coach, Walter Robby, described him as an exceptional running back player with great agility and talent. He was stunned to hear the news, saying: “He worked hard, didn’t cause problems, was polite and disciplined. Whatever you asked him to do, he did it.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Michael Leon, his former teammate, said that no one from the school team can process what happened. “It’s unbelievable… We’re talking about a kid who never emitted negative energy or bad vibes,” he said, adding that Tamura “was generally quiet, but when he spoke, everyone gave him their attention.” He remembers that Tamura had excelled in his category, but never showed interest in continuing at the collegiate or professional level. “I knew many kids in high school who lived with that dream. But I never got that message from Shane,” he said.

According to authorities, Tamura recently traveled across several states to reach New York and the NFL offices which, it appears, were his target. His car passed through Colorado on Saturday, through Nebraska and Iowa on Sunday, while he was in Columbia, New Jersey on Monday at 4:24 PM, shortly before entering New York.

Gun ownership in the US: Alarming statistics

The US records the highest death rate from bullets of any economically developed country, while it’s worth noting that there are more guns in circulation than residents.

Such killings constitute a “plague” in the country, with governments proving unable to address these incidents, as too many Americans want to keep their guns and don’t want to hear about restrictions on gun ownership.

The right of the country’s citizens to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. According to the non-governmental organization Gun Violence Archive, in 2024, more than 16,000 people – not counting suicides – were killed in attacks involving firearms.

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