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.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.