Mourners remember 'ny hero' Guard killed by Park Avenue Shooter

(Bloomberg) – Hundreds of members of the Haitian community in Brooklyn joined business leaders, politicians and the family of security guard Aland Etienne to mourn his death in the shooting last month in an office in New York. “What happened in New York was senseless,” his brother Gathmand Etienne said and stood next to his coffin during his funeral. “It took away a man who still had so much to give.” Etienne, 46, was one of four people who died on July 28 in the foyer of 345 Park Avenue when Shane Tamura, 27, entered the building and caught fire. After being shot, Etienne tried to crawl to a panel that controled the elevators but collapsed before he could get there. The murders reflect on New York, from glass tower council halls to Etienne’s Haitian enclave in Flatbush, and upset the corporate tenants of the 44-story Office Tower, home to Blackstone Inc., KPMG LLP and Rudin Management Co., a landlord of the building, which endures the fest of the most secure merchandise. The building also houses the offices of the NFL. Tamura was upset about football -related brain injuries. Tamura also shot dead police officer Didarul Islam and senior chief executive of Blackstone Real Estate, Wesley Lepatner, before climbing the elevator to the 33rd floor and killing Rudin employee Julia Hyman. He then shot himself. Etienne was a ‘New York Hero’, Manny Pastreich, president of the local 32BJ of the Service Employers International Union, told more than 350 mourners. “We honor and acknowledge Aland’s heroism,” he said. “His last moments were focused on saving others.” The shock of the shooting was felt far outside Park Avenue. In the Bronx, hundreds of uniform officers of almost every area met at a memorial service for officer Islam, while the central synagogue mourned Midtown Lepatner. Each ceremony reflects the different communities composed by the violence. Town officials attended Saturday’s funeral, including pre-service appearances by Mayor Eric Adams and American representative Hakem Jeffries, Democratic leader Home. Bill Rudin and other members of the Rudin family, who own the building, sat in the crowd. Similarly, the Democratic Mayor nominated Zohran Mamdani. Blackstone Charitable Foundation made a donation to answer the call, which began after the September 11, 2001 terror attack, to help families of first respondents, and a GoFundMepage erected for Etienne’s four children, raised nearly $ 200,000, including various donations of multiple dollars of senior Blackstone. -With help from Amanda Gordon. More stories like these are available on Bloomberg.com © 2025 Bloomberg LP