Bryant Park Vigil Honors Victims of Deadly Midtown Office Shooting

Remembering the Victims

• 💔 Four individuals were killed in a sudden and tragic office shooting in Midtown.
• 🎯 Among the victims was Alan Etien, a 46-year-old security guard remembered by his union as a hero.
• 💼 Wesley Leantner, a senior managing director of real estate for Blackstone, was described as brilliant, passionate, warm, and generous.
• 🎓 Julia Hyman, who worked on the 33rd floor for Ruden Management, was a Suma Kumla graduate from Cornell University with notable achievements and intellectual curiosity.

Collective Grief and Prayer

• 🙏 A prayer vigil was held in Bryant Park to honor the lives lost and offer collective prayer for the victims and their families.
• 🕊️ The ecumenical service, flanked by funeral flowers, served as a space for people to come together in response to collective pain.
• 💬 Attendees expressed the need to be there for each other and to pray for one another during this difficult time.

A Reflection of New York

• 🌈 The service embraced a rainbow of faiths, ethnicities, and languages, reflecting the diversity of the victims and the city.
• ✨ Despite the tragedy, the event highlighted the beauty of a collective prayer from people around the world.
• 💐 Plans were made to deliver the flowers from the vigil to 345 Park Avenue in memory of the four victims.

Personal Loss and Community Support

• 😔 The police commissioner, a pillar of strength for the NYPD, mourned the loss of not only an officer but also a personal friend, Wesley Leatner.
• 💬 The sentiment was that the victims were taken by violence but now rest in peace, with their memories serving as a blessing.