Yale Grad Among 4 Killed In Midtown Manhattan High Rise Shooting

NEW HAVEN, CT — A Yale graduate was among four people killed when a gunman entered a midtown Manhattan high rise and opened fire on Monday, according to reports and the company she worked for as CEO, Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust.

The gunman, police said, killed four people at a Park Avenue, Manhattan office building before killing himself. In the note, according to the Associated Press, he claimed to have a brain disease, CTE, which is linked to contact sports. His target was the National Football League's headquarters, but as reported, he "took the wrong elevator," officials said Tuesday.

Wesley LePatner, 43, graduated summa cum laude from Yale in 2003 with a BA in history.

"We are heartbroken to share that our colleague, Wesley LePatner, was among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at 345 Park Avenue.," the company said in a statement sent to Patch.

"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. She embodied the best of Blackstone. Our prayers are with her husband, children and family," the company statement reads. "We are also saddened by the loss of the other innocent victims as well, including brave security personnel and NYPD."

Before joining Blackstone in 2014, LePatner spent a decade with Goldman Sachs, "most recently as a Managing Director in the Real Estate Investment Group within the Asset Management Division," her bio reads.

See related: 4 Killed In Midtown NYC Shooting: What We Know

A Yale grad and member of Phi Beta Kappa, she served on the boards of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Abraham Joshua Heschel School, The UJA-Federation of New York, the Yale University Library Council, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Governors of NAREIT. The Met announced her being named Elective Trustee in February.

The UJA provided this statement:

"We are devastated by the tragic loss of Wesley LePatner, a beloved member of UJA’s community and a member of our board of directors, who was killed in yesterday’s mass shooting in Midtown.
Wesley was extraordinary in every way — personally, professionally, and philanthropically. An exceptional leader in the financial world, she brought thoughtfulness, vision, and compassion to everything she did. In 2023, we honored her with the Alan C. Greenberg Young Leadership Award at our Wall Street Dinner, recognizing her commitment to our community and her remarkable achievements, all the more notable as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field.
In the wake of October 7, Wesley led a solidarity mission with UJA to Israel, demonstrating her enduring commitment in Israel's moment of heartache. She lived with courage and conviction, instilling in her two children a deep love for Judaism and the Jewish people.
We mourn the loss of a life taken far too soon and extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband, Evan; her children; and her entire family.
May Wesley’s memory be for a blessing — and a lasting source of strength and inspiration."