Inside 345 Park Avenue: The Killer's Arrival

A Tragic Day at 345 Park Avenue

Hundreds of people consider 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan their professional home. This towering skyscraper rises over 600 feet and occupies an entire city block between 51st and 52nd Streets in Midtown, stretching from Park to Lexington Avenue. It is located in one of the most affluent areas of the city.

Despite its size, there are trees on the south side that could provide some relief for commuters during the summer. However, the building’s massive structure casts a shadow that dominates the area. Yet, there is a sense of openness around the building, with a large open plaza facing the century-old Romanesque grandeur of St. Bartholemew’s Church leading into a bright and welcoming lobby.

This peaceful setting was shattered early Monday evening when a mass killer entered the building. The usual rush hour bustle turned into alarm as witnesses heard two shots, followed by the sound of shattering glass and rapid gunfire. Nekeisha Lewis, who was dining with friends nearby, saw a man run from the building saying, “Help, help. I’m shot.”

The gunman had left his black BMW sedan double-parked on the street and walked into the entrance wearing sunglasses and holding an assault-style rifle in his right hand. His behavior, as captured by security cameras, was described as “quite brazen” by retired NYPD Capt. John Monaghan. He noted that the man did not seem worried about being caught, suggesting he knew he might not survive the encounter.

As he entered the 44-story tower, which houses the headquarters of the National Football League along with prestigious investment and real estate firms, the man turned right. According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, he shot Didarul Islam, a man in a dark blue NYPD uniform working a sanctioned overtime shift to provide extra security.

Surveillance footage showed him shooting a woman behind a pillar, then firing into the area. Another man in the lobby was hit and managed to escape. The entrance's glass panels and revolving door were shattered but remained in place.

The shooter then approached the gates leading to the elevators, where he shot and killed Aland Etienne, a building guard trying to activate an alarm that would have disabled the elevators. On a typical day, this guard would check in visitors before they could proceed through the turnstiles to the upper floors. According to Coy Wire, who has visited the NFL offices in the building, it is highly secured.

The gunman reached the elevators and took one that opened into the lobby, letting out a woman. Early investigations suggest he was targeting the NFL, but the elevator he took does not serve the lower floors where the NFL headquarters are. Instead, after allowing the woman to pass unharmed, he went to the 33rd floor.

At 6:28 p.m., the NYPD’s 911 call center began receiving alerts about an active shooter at 345 Park, and emergency responders soon arrived. Iris Christo Doulou, who was in her office across East 52nd Street, saw people running outside and reported that a helicopter hovered overhead. She and her colleagues were instructed to stay inside and avoid windows.

A column of police officers entered the building, seen on video from a neighboring building. Outside, streets filled with office workers ran with their hands up past a falafel truck and the entrance to the Downtown 6 train on Lexington Avenue. Uniformed police organized evacuations and warned a reporter approaching the building that a shooter with a high-powered rifle was inside.

On the 33rd floor, at the office of Rudin Management, the gunman stepped out of the elevator and fired as he walked. One woman was struck and killed. He then walked down a hallway and shot himself in the chest.

As law enforcement poured into the building, the extent of the tragedy became clear. Two men and two women were killed, along with the shooter, making it the worst gun attack in New York in 25 years. Another man, an employee of the NFL, was seriously injured and hospitalized.

Security guard Etienne was remembered as “a New York hero” by his union. Rudin Management, the building's owners, confirmed that Etienne was beloved there and that a Rudin employee was also killed. Julia Hyman, named by her alma mater Cornell University, was described as an extraordinary student.

Blackstone, a company with offices in the building, mourned the loss of Wesley LePatner, who left behind a husband and children. She was a senior managing editor of Blackstone and a trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other roles. The UJA-Federation of New York praised her as an exceptional leader.

Police Commissioner Tisch honored Didarul Islam, the NYPD officer who was shot and killed. She praised him for putting himself in harm’s way and making the ultimate sacrifice.

By Tuesday morning, the sounds of rush hour returned to Midtown. No workers were allowed inside 345 Park; instead, the US and New York state flags fluttered at half-staff, and a small memorial began to take shape. Flowers were placed on a railing, and a single yellow balloon with a handwritten message read, “Love one another!”