An unexpectedly horrific tragedy unfolded in the heart of midtown Manhattan on Monday. Gunman Shane D Tamura went on a shooting spree, targeting a 44-storey skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue.
The 27-year-old believed to be a former high school football star opened fire inside the high-rise building that hosts major businesses, including private-equity firm Blackstone, a Bank of America branch and the National Football League headquarters. The mayhem claimed four lives, while a fifth person was “seriously injured” and hospitalised. After unleashing his brazen wrath and terrifying the building occupants, Tamura shot himself in the chest on the 33rd floor.
Devil Wears Prada New York filming: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway’s set just minutes away from shooting site
While all this was transpiring on one side, just minutes from the New York City horror, Meryl Street and Anne Hathaway joined Stanley Tucci to film the Devil Wears Prada sequel. The fatal mass shooting happened at 345 Park Avenue, while the Hollywood stars were engrossed in their filming process the same day just blocks away.
According to the Daily Mail, the beloved actors dug themselves into the creative process at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, which is approximately a 15-minute walk away from the midtown Manhattan building where the Monday tragedy broke out. Fortunately, the cast members cleared wrapped up filming at least three hours before Tamura began his shooting rampage.
In the aftermath of the incident, surveillance photos showed Tamura strolling into what would soon become a site associated with tragic memories. He was seen wielding a massive M4 assault rifle, as he unabashedly stormed inside, first shooting NYPD officer Didarul Islam dead.
345 Park Avenue: Once-prominent business centre now marred by tragedy
The 345 Park Avenue building is also nicknamed the ‘Blackstone Building’ since it has been a long-standing home to the American alternative investment management company Blackstone Inc. The skyscraper sits in the bustling heart of Manhattan. Designed by Emery Roth & Sons, it opened in 1969.
Occupying an entire city block between 51st Street and 52nd Street, the 44-storey building is deemed a prominent business centre. According to SkyscraperCentre.com, 345 Park Avenue, New York City, comes in at 2771 in the Global Height Rank, and takes the 359th spot in the North America Height Rank.