“We extend our deep condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones tonight, including that of our own 32BJ SEIU security member Aland Etienne, a dedicated security officer who took his job duties extremely seriously,” 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich said, Monday after the mass shooting.
Wesley LePatner, Didarul Islam, Julia Hyman, and Aland Etienne were the four people killed in Monday night’s horrific Midtown Manhattan Melee at 345 Park Avenue.
The unarmed security guard, Aland Etienne, a 46-year-old African American man, was identified as the third victim in the New York City mass shooting on July 28th that left four innocent people dead before the gunman took his own life, his union confirms.
Etienne was working in the lobby at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan on Monday evening when he was shot and killed by 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, who was apparently targeting NFL headquarters.
He spent his final moments trying to save others. Etienne, “tried to crawl to hit the button to recall the elevators so the elevators wouldn’t go to the top floors,” Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry said on Fox 5’s Good Day New York.
“This tragedy speaks to the sacrifice of security officers who risk their lives every day to keep New Yorkers and our buildings safe. Every time a security officer puts on their uniform, they put their lives on the line. Their contributions to our city are essential, though often unappreciated,” The 32BJ SEIU President tells Black Westchester in a statement. He adds, “Aland Etienne is a New York hero. We will remember him as such.”
Etienne is survived by his 6-year-old son, whose 7th birthday is Saturday, and doesn’t know yet that his father is dead, and an older daughter, five brothers, and a sister. His family traveled from Florida to be with Rachel Paoli, his girlfriend of eight years and mother of their son, to mourn the loss of the native Haitian.
His loved ones are now grieving in private. Etienne’s brother, Gathmand, described him as “more than a brother” in a heartfelt Facebook post and asked for prayers during this painful time.
“He was more than a brother; he was a father, a son, and the light in our lives. Our hearts are shattered, and we’re asking for your prayers and strength as we navigate this painful time.”
Etienne lived in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and worked two security jobs. After finishing a shift, he would nap briefly before heading to his next post. Co-workers said he was known for his friendly greetings and hopeful attitude. Some affectionately called him “Eli.”
Investigators suspect Tamura was trying to get to the NFL offices after shooting many individuals, including Etienne, in the building’s lobby, but unintentionally entered the wrong set of elevator banks, Mayor Eric Adams said in interviews. Police claimed Tamura had a history of mental illness, and a rambling note found on his body suggested that he had a grievance against the NFL over an allegation that he suffered a chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Only after a person has passed away may this degenerative brain disease be identified. He never played in the NFL, although he did play scholastic football in high school in California.
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