NYC mass shooting: How office furniture helped employees stay safe during gunfire

At least five people, including a police officer and the suspected gunman, died after a shooting took place inside a tall office building in central Manhattan, New York, on Monday evening.

The incident began around 6:00 pm (local time), when police were alerted about gunshots near Park Avenue, a popular area for tourists and business visitors.



A 27-year-old man named Shane Tamura, reportedly from Las Vegas, has been identified as the suspected shooter in a tragic incident that took place on Monday evening at a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

Tamura allegedly opened fire inside the building at 345 Park Avenue, which is home to big offices like Blackstone, the NFL, and KPMG. At least four people were killed before Tamura was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the building’s 33rd floor.

Who Was Shane Tamura?

Though official details are still limited, reports suggest:

• Tamura was a former high school football player, known for being a star running back at Granada Hills.
• He graduated high school in 2016.
• He reportedly held a concealed firearm permit issued by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police in 2022, valid for two years.
• The weapon used in the attack was a .223-calibre AR-15-style rifle from Palmetto State Armory, priced at around $420.

Why Did He Do It?

So far, the police haven’t confirmed a motive. However, some social media posts claim that Tamura was disappointed about not making it to the NFL, and since the NFL’s headquarters is located in the same building, this might have played a role. But again, these claims are not verified.

What happened?

A man exited a double parked BMW with an M4 rifle and then walked toward the building on Monday evening, according to surveillance video.

He quickly opened fire on the NYPD officer as he entered the building before shooting a woman who tried to take cover, police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference on Monday night. He then started “spraying” the lobby with gunfire.

The man went to the elevator bank and shot a security guard who was taking cover behind a security desk and also another man in the lobby, Tisch said.

The man took the elevator to the 33rd floor to a real estate management company and one person was shot and killed on that floor. The man then walked down a hallway and shot himself, she said.

How employees reacted inside the building

Shocking photos on social media showed workers inside 345 Park Avenue blocking their office doors with furniture. People in formal office wear were seen stacking sofas and desks high up to protect themselves from the attacker.

The building houses several major companies, including Blackstone (a hedge fund), KPMG (an auditing firm), and even the National Football League. Police later confirmed the area was safe and the lone gunman was dead. They did not share more details about him.

Eyewitnesses speak out

Many employees were preparing to leave for the day when the shooting started. Shad Sakib, one of the office workers, told AFP that he was packing his things when an announcement told them to stay inside and take shelter.

“Everyone was confused at first. Then someone found out online that there was a man with a machine gun,” Sakib said. He added that the suspect walked through the same area where he usually gets lunch.

“You always think something like this won’t happen to you, until it does,” he added.

Another woman, who didn’t share her name, told reporters, “I was in the building. He went floor to floor.” A second woman was seen crying as she left the scene.

City leaders react

New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged people to avoid the area. He posted on X, “New Yorkers: there is an active shooter investigation taking place in midtown right now. Please take proper safety precautions if you are in vicinity and do not go outside if you are near Park Avenue and East 51st Street.”

Zohran Mamdani, who is currently leading in the race for mayor, posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying he was “heartbroken” by the incident. He also said his thoughts were with the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer involved.

Inputs from agencies