KPMG decided to shut down its Park Avenue location on Tuesday, instructing employees to work from home after a tragic shooting incident the previous day claimed four lives in the same Midtown Manhattan building.
A memo from the firm’s managing partner, Yesenia Scheker Izquierdo, was sent out to staff at 11:04 PM on Monday, urging them to operate remotely. As noted by a report, the firm has multiple offices spanning different floors at 345 Park Ave., where a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, Shane Tamura, opened fire with an M4 rifle around 6:28 PM.
In the message sent to employees that night, KPMG condemned the shooting as “a horrifying, tragic, and terrifying event.”
The company stated that the office would remain closed to aid law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.
KPMG’s leadership expressed that they are collaborating closely with security and law enforcement to keep all NYC staff informed and safe.
They encouraged employees to engage with emergency text alerts sent out to those in New York.
An employee reported to a news outlet that two messages were received on the company’s phone around 7 PM on Monday, asking staff to confirm their safety status.
A screenshot shared indicated that KPMG had communicated through text as well.
As for returning to the office, employees conveyed that they would feel comfortable returning to 345 Park Ave when it reopens.
“It’s definitely a frightening situation, but I think the company is doing what it can to keep everyone safe during this time,” one employee remarked.
KPMG projected that their New York offices would likely remain closed while the investigation was underway and offered both in-person and virtual counseling services to their local staff.
There was no immediate response from KPMG regarding further inquiries.
Reportedly, a disturbing memo was found in the pocket of the shooter, wherein he made claims related to a condition known as CTE.
This shooting transpired after he fatally shot individuals on the 33rd floor of 245 Park Ave., resulting in the deaths of security personnel and employees while seriously injuring NFL staff.
Initially, Tamura intended to target NFL offices located on the fifth and eighth floors, but mistakenly took the wrong elevators, which led him to a higher floor instead, as mentioned by Mayor Eric Adams.
