Crime
Blackstone Executive Wesley LePatner Killed in Midtown Manhattan Mass Shooting
NEW YORK, NY — The gunman responsible for Monday evening’s mass shooting inside a Midtown Manhattan office tower that left four people dead, including a prominent executive, was allegedly targeting the NFL’s headquarters but ended up on the wrong floor, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
Authorities confirmed that one of the victims was Wesley LePatner, a top executive at Blackstone. LePatner was the Global Head of Core+ Real Estate and CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT).
She was also a member of Blackstone Real Estate’s Investment Committee. LePatner, a Yale graduate, previously held senior roles at Goldman Sachs and served on several prestigious boards, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the UJA-Federation of New York.
The gunman, identified as Shane Tamura, 27, a mentally ill former casino security guard from Las Vegas, opened fire inside 345 Park Avenue around 6:28 p.m. Monday.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tamura entered the 44-story skyscraper armed with an M4-style rifle, killed four people, injured one more, and ultimately turned the gun on himself.
Surveillance footage captured Tamura arriving in a black BMW with Nevada plates, which he double-parked between 51st and 52nd Streets.
He then entered the building’s lobby, immediately shooting NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, before continuing his rampage.
He then fatally shot a woman hiding behind a lobby pillar and a security guard stationed at a desk near the elevators.
Another man in the lobby was wounded and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Tamura allowed one woman to exit an elevator safely before proceeding to the 33rd floor, where he encountered and killed Wesley LePatner, who was working in Blackstone’s offices.
After firing throughout the floor, Tamura walked down a hallway and shot himself in the chest, dying at the scene.
Mayor Adams said Tamura may have intended to target the NFL’s headquarters, also located within the building, but likely took the wrong elevator.
Tamura had a documented mental health history, according to Las Vegas law enforcement.
Investigators say he abruptly missed work Sunday and began driving cross-country. His vehicle was tracked passing through Colorado (July 26), Nebraska and Iowa (July 27), and Columbia, New Jersey (4:24 p.m. July 28), arriving in Manhattan just hours before the shooting.
Police recovered from Tamura’s vehicle a rifle case, a loaded revolver, multiple magazines, a backpack, and prescription medication. He also possessed a valid Nevada concealed firearms permit with an expiration date of 2027.
The AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting — a .223-caliber Palmetto State Armory weapon — was equipped with a scope, handguard, and shoulder sling. Photos of the rifle obtained by media outlets showed it was smeared with blood.
Tamura acted alone, and while his exact motive remains unclear, NYPD and federal investigators are working to determine what led him to target this high-profile location.
Tisch noted that his attack caused widespread panic in the building, which houses major tenants like Blackstone, NFL headquarters, Rudin Management, and others.
Wesley LePatner’s death has stunned the financial and real estate community. With a career spanning over two decades, LePatner was widely respected for her leadership, vision, and charitable involvement.
She received her BA in History from Yale University, summa cum laude, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Her contributions extended far beyond the boardroom, including philanthropic work across the arts and education.
The NYPD and federal authorities continue to investigate the shooting and Tamura’s background. According to Commissioner Tisch, the building was secured within 90 minutes of the initial 911 call.
“We are working tirelessly to understand this individual’s movements, motives, and mental state,” Tisch said. “This tragedy has left a mark on our city, and our hearts are with the victims and their families.”
The Sparks Police Department and NYPD’s Critical Incident Response Team are handling the investigation into the shooting, which Mayor Adams described as a tragic reminder of the need for comprehensive mental health and gun safety reforms.
More updates will be released as the investigation continues.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.