Aland Etienne, a 46-year-old man of Haitian descent, was killed on July 28, 2025, during a mass shooting inside the lobby of the 345 Park Avenue office building in Manhattan. Etienne was on duty as an unarmed security guard when the gunman, 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, entered the building and opened fire with an M4 rifle. In his final moments, Etienne attempted to lock down the building's elevators to prevent the shooter's advance and protect others.
He was shot and killed while trying to take cover behind the security desk.
Originally from Haiti, Etienne had immigrated to the United States in July 1997 and settled in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was a respected member of his community and was described by those who knew him as a devoted family man. He was the father of four children and a grandfather. His union, 32BJ SEIU, hailed him as a 'New York hero' for his bravery and sacrifice.
The perpetrator, Shane Devon Tamura, killed three other people in the attack before taking his own life. The other victims were off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, and Rudin Management employee Julia Hyman. An NFL employee was also injured in the shooting. Investigators believe Tamura's motive was related to grievances with the National Football League, whose headquarters are in the building. Tamura left a note mentioning Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy a brain disease linked to head trauma in football players. As the suspect died by suicide at the scene, there were no arrests, trials, or convictions in this case.
