There's a shooter in the lobby: How Blackstone staff communicated and warned each other during Manhattan shooting spree in Midtown Office that killed an employee

A gunman armed with a rifle killed four people at a New York office tower on July 28. As per a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, a Blackstone employee is among those killed in the Midtown firing incident. As the incident unfolded, Blackstone staff reportedly used email and Microsoft Teams to alert colleagues about the active shooter and urge them to stay away from lower floors. An unnamed employee told the publication that workers relied on internal messages to quickly share warnings and updates during the chaos. According to reports, the Manhattan building houses KPMG US, investment company Blackstone’s midtown office and the headquarters for the NFL. The WSJ report quotes KPMG spokesperson Russ Grote who said “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families. We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement”.The accused, identified as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, had a documented mental health history. He opened fire at 6:28 p.m. at 345 Park Avenue. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told media that a surveillance video shows him exiting a double-parked BMW and carrying an M4 rifle. He then entered the 44-story building, turned right and immediately began opening fire on a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer.The officer, Didarul Islam, 36 was an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for nearly three years and 6 months, Tisch said.After killing Islam, Tamura opened fire at a woman taking shelter behind a pillar, the police informed. He then began “spraying” the lobby with gunfire, making his way to the elevator by killing a security guard. Tamura then took the elevator to the 33rd floor, the site of Rudin Management, and "began walking the floor, firing rounds as he traveled." "He then proceeds down the hallway and shoots himself in the chest," Tisch said.