The tragic events of Monday’s shooting rampage in a Midtown skyscraper claimed the life of a promising young woman, Julia Hyman, who was dedicated to her work until her last moments.
Julia, 27, was one of the few individuals still at work on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Ave. around 6:30 p.m. when the shooter, Shane Tamura, also 27, entered the scene and started firing with an assault rifle.
A recent graduate of Cornell University, Julia had joined Rudin Management as an associate in November. Her commitment to her work was evident as she was often seen working late hours at her prestigious job.
“She was a hard worker. That’s what they said,” shared Siva Subramaniam, the father of Julia’s best friend from college, at her funeral.
Julia was one of the few people Tamura encountered on the 33rd floor. After a failed attempt to escape by a building maid and another employee retreating to a panic room, Tamura found Julia near a desk and fatally shot her.
Following the senseless act, Tamura turned the gun on himself. Police expressed relief that the shooting occurred after most employees had left for the day.
Colleagues remembered Julia as a natural leader who extended her energy and attention to everyone in the corporate hierarchy, from interns to senior staff.
During her funeral, it was evident how many lives Julia had touched, with an overflow room needed to accommodate all the attendees.
“With seemingly innate emotional intelligence, Julia knew how to connect in a deep and meaningful way with those around her,” shared her uncle Rob Pittman at the service.
Julia’s impact extended beyond her work and academic achievements. She was a leader in her sorority at Cornell University and captain of her high school lacrosse team.
Despite the tragedy, Julia’s uncle encouraged her loved ones to reflect on the positive influence she had on so many people’s lives.
