The gunman responsible for a deadly shooting spree inside a Midtown Manhattan office tower earlier this week fired his weapon at an unarmed maid before continuing his rampage, NYPD officials confirmed Wednesday, as reported by The New York Post.
Authorities say the maid narrowly escaped with her life after encountering the shooter, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Avenue.
Crazed NYC gunman Shane Tamura chased and fired at helpless maid who escaped unscathed https://t.co/n0EyNk3eYv pic.twitter.com/vQY40dD4Uf
— Buzz Nova (@BuzzNova163093) July 30, 2025
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Tamura, who had entered the building around 6:28 p.m. Monday armed with an M4-style rifle, opened fire in the lobby before making his way to the upper floors. He ultimately killed four people before taking his own life.
NYPD Chief of Department John Chell described the 33rd-floor encounter during an appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends.
“When he gets to the top floor, he sees a maid who has been there for years, beloved, just cleaning up and doing her job when everyone leaves,” Chell said.
“He’s firing AR-15 rounds at her. The sheer terror. Thank God she got away — he made a right and she made a left.”
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Tamura fatally shot Julia Hyman, an employee of Rudin Management, moments later. She was the fourth victim in the shooting.
“This crime scene, the video, in three decades of doing this, was just horrible,” Chell said. “Thank God this didn’t happen a half-hour earlier. There were minimal people.”

Image Credit: Kivanc Ekinci – Shutterstock.com
The chaos began when Tamura exited a black BMW outside the building and entered the lobby with his weapon. He immediately shot NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, and a woman attempting to hide behind a pillar.
He then fired on security guard Aland Etienne, who was stationed behind a desk. Another male victim was injured in the lobby and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Tamura spared a woman who exited the elevator before continuing up to the 33rd floor, where Rudin Properties’ offices are located. There, after fatally shooting Hyman, he shot himself in the chest.
Authorities said Tamura was searching for the NFL’s New York headquarters but mistakenly took the wrong elevator.
A suicide note found on his body indicated he believed he was suffering from a football-related brain condition, possibly chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), although police say he never played in the NFL.
In total, the deceased victims include Officer Didarul Islam, Rudin Management employee Julia Hyman, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, and security guard Aland Etienne.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the shooter had been “neutralized” just after 7:50 p.m. on Monday. Investigators continue to examine Tamura’s background, including his history of mental illness and his belief that football caused his neurological decline.
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