New York City - and the Jewish world - is in mourning after a mass shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday left four people dead and one critically wounded. Among the victims were two young Jewish professionals: Wesley LePatner, 43, a senior managing director at Blackstone, and Julia Hyman, 27, an associate at Rudin Management.
At around 6:30 p.m., a man entered the lobby of 345 Park Avenue armed with an AR-15-style rifle. Authorities say he had intended to target the National Football League’s offices in the building but mistakenly took the wrong elevator bank. He opened fire in the lobby, fatally shooting Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner as she hid behind a pillar, along with off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam and building security guard Aland Etienne. He then went up to the 33rd floor, where he shot and killed Julia Hyman before turning the gun on himself.
LePatner, a respected leader in the financial world, was also deeply devoted to the Jewish community. She served on the board of trustees at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and UJA-Federation of New York, where she was honored with the Alan C. Greenberg Young Leadership Award in 2023. Following the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, she led a UJA solidarity mission to Israel, underscoring her lifelong commitment to Jewish causes.
“Wesley was extraordinary in every way—personally, professionally and philanthropically,” UJA wrote in a statement. “She lived with courage and conviction, instilling in her two children a deep love for Judaism and the Jewish people.”
Julia Hyman, who also proudly identified with her Jewish heritage, had graduated summa cum laude from Cornell in 2020 with a degree in hotel and restaurant administration and a minor in real estate. She began working as a full-time associate at Rudin Management, the real estate firm that owns the building, just nine months ago.
“Julia was an extraordinary student whose academic achievements and intellectual curiosity made a lasting impression,” wrote Kate Walsh, dean of the Nolan School. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff noted that she had recently returned to campus for her five-year reunion. “Julia was a cherished member of our community, and her loss is deeply felt,” added Andrew Karolyi, dean of the S.C. Johnson College of Business. She is survived by her parents and her sister, Alison Hyman.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed his condolences, writing that he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic shooting in New York City.” He added, “Thoughts are with the families of the victims, including Wesley LePatner. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Israel stands with New York and the United States of America.”
As the city grieves this horrific act of violence, tributes continue to pour in for LePatner and Hyman, two women remembered for their professional excellence, devotion to community, and strong Jewish identities.
May their memories be a blessing.
