NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) — Wall Street reopened under a somber cloud Tuesday morning following a deadly shooting in Midtown Manhattan that left multiple victims dead, including Wesley LePatner, a senior executive at global investment firm Blackstone (BX.N). The tragic incident unfolded Monday evening at 345 Park Avenue, the location of Blackstone’s New York headquarters.
Blackstone confirmed that its offices would remain closed on Tuesday, mourning the loss of LePatner. “We are heartbroken to share that our colleague, Wesley LePatner, was among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at 345 Park Avenue. Words cannot express the devastation we feel,” the firm said in an official statement.
The gunman, identified by authorities as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, entered the building’s lobby as employees prepared to leave for the day. He opened fire, killing LePatner, a New York City police officer, and several others before heading to the 33rd floor and fatally shooting himself, according to NYPD.
The office tower also houses high-profile tenants including the NFL headquarters, accounting giant KPMG, and Rudin Management, the building’s owner. In the wake of the shooting, KPMG also closed its offices on Tuesday. Rudin Management has not responded to media inquiries.
While many New York financial institutions already implement security protocols, including restricted elevator access, the lobby of most buildings remains accessible to the public—a practice likely to face renewed scrutiny after this event. Goldman Sachs told Reuters it maintains “robust security protocols” and continuously reviews them in light of recent events.
In an internal note to staff, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and President Jon Gray described Monday as “the worst day in the firm’s 40-year history.” The company is also planning a Zoom call Tuesday morning for employees to grieve and reflect together.
Wesley LePatner held multiple leadership roles at Blackstone, including Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Core+ Real Estate, and CEO of the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust. She joined the firm in 2014 after a successful tenure at Goldman Sachs. A Yale graduate with highest honors, LePatner was described by colleagues as “brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected.”
