Heroic Actions During Midtown Shooting
A lobby greeter at 345 Park Ave, Andre Morris, 39, acted heroically during last week’s tragic shooting, managing to save eight lives by ushering people into a closet amidst chaos.
Morris, who just arrived for work, described feeling compelled to act when gunman Shane Tamura began firing as a group exited the elevator on that fateful Monday. He instinctively led his colleagues to safety.
Once inside the closet, the group, shaken and silent, huddled together, realizing the severity of the situation.
“I was just starting my shift,” Morris recounted. “I don’t see myself as a hero. What happened was just devastating—a senseless loss of life.”
Having worked for Rudin Management for a decade, Morris has held various roles within the company, emphasizing his connection with those he greets daily.
Unfortunately, this incident marked the deadliest mass shooting New York City has seen in 25 years, claiming the lives of NYPD officer Didarul Islam, security guard Aland Etienne, Blackstone executive Wesley Lepatner, and Rudin staff member Julia Hyman. One additional individual was injured.
When the shooting erupted, Tamura, 27, unleashed terror on the 33rd floor, aiming his rifle at those in the vicinity.
Morris had just stepped away to get water when the sounds of gunfire—close to 10 to 15 shots—echoed through the building. He was initially unable to locate the shooter. After seeing bullets ricochet and smoke fill the air, he called 911 and alerted others in adjacent buildings.
The building hosts several high-profile clients, including Blackstone and the NFL, which were both targets of the assault.
As the shooting continued, Morris helped eight employees find refuge in a small closet, shutting off any means of communication to ensure their cover remained secure. Fearful yet focused, they waited in silence.
As the situation unfolded, panic spread among the workers who texted loved ones while securing the doors.
Upon hearing the arrival of police, Morris opened the door and guided everyone out, instructing them to keep their hands raised for safety.
“As a lobby ambassador, I build relationships with everyone who comes to work here. They feel like family,” he noted.
Morris reflected on the emergency training provided by building management, stating he never anticipated facing such a dire situation. Yet when it arose, his instincts pushed him to protect as many people as possible.
Some of the women he saved shared their harrowing experiences. One recalled encountering the lifeless body of the security guard as chaos ensued around them.
Another employee, feeling overwhelmed, recounted how they sought shelter after the gunfire erupted, adding, “It all felt so chaotic.”
Inside the cramped space, the group listened to the sounds of footsteps and gunfire, feeling the weight of their near escape.
Later, when a SWAT team evacuated them, they had to comply with strict instructions, holding their hands up, confirming they weren’t threats.
Returning to the site to pay respects to the victims, Morris expressed particular sorrow over the loss of his close friend and colleague, Aland Etienne.
A source from Rudin Management praised Morris’s courageous response during the upheaval, reinforcing the importance of his role in security amidst the turmoil.
“We are incredibly grateful for Andre’s bravery,” the source stated. “His actions exemplified not just hospitality but also a crucial aspect of our security efforts.”
