Wesley LePatner Blackstone executive among those killed by gunman at firm’s New York headquarters
Wesley LePatner was fatally shot at Blackstone’s base at 345 Park Ave. in midtown Manhattan, along with a New York City police officer and two other people at the property, police said, while a fifth person was wounded.
The Blackstone executive who this year took the helm of the investment giant’s private real estate investment trust was among those killed when a gunman opened fire at the company’s New York headquarters on Monday.
One of those killed was an employee of the firm, Rudin, that owns the building, a young associate and Cornell graduate named Julia Hyman, media reports said. The alleged assailant, according to police, was Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old from Las Vegas who authorities said shot himself at the scene.
In January, LePatner took over as CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, or BREIT, succeeding Frank Cohen.
She also served as the global head of Blackstone’s core+ business and was a member of Blackstone Real Estate’s Investment Committee. She had previously served as the chief operating officer of the core+ business as well as BREIT.
Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has about $336 billion in investor capital under management.
“We are heartbroken to share that our colleague, Wesley LePatner, was among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at 345 Park Ave.,” Blackstone said Tuesday in a statement.
“Words cannot express the devastation we feel. Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed.
She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.
