Funeral held for NYC office shooting victim Julia Hyman, prayer service planned for NYPD officer

CBS News

5 days ago

A funeral was held Wednesday morning for the first victim to be laid to rest in Monday's deadly shooting inside an office building in New York City.
Julia Hyman's uncle described her as a remarkable young woman who lived with courage and conviction. The Ruchmin Management employee was gunned down on the 33rd floor of the high-rise at 345 Park Ave. in Midtown Manhattan.
"Today we gather with hearts shattered and sprits heavy struggling to make sense of a world that has lost someone so luminous, so full of promise and so deeply loved," uncle Rob Pitman said. "Even now, as we try to grapple with a loss so violent and so wrong, she continues to show up in our memories, in our hearts, and in the way we now strive to live with the same passion, depth and integrity that she embodied."
"At Julia Hyman's funeral today, her uncle, cousins, and over a dozen friends spoke about this eloquent young woman who was full of talent, passion, and adventure. She was in the prime of her life and the world has been robbed of her presence. May her memory be a blessing," a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams posted on social media.
Funeral plans have also been announced for NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. A special prayer service will be held at the fallen officer's mosque on Thursday in the Parkchester section of the Bronx.
Early Wednesday morning, state and city leaders gathered with police for roll call at the 47th Precinct, where Islam served.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on social media that his family is grieving, writing, in part, "You can feel their pain and heartbreak inside these halls. All of New York stands with them today as we honor his service and share in their loss."
"There's just a shockwave that has rippled to our city. It shatters that sense of security that people have when they're working in downtown office buildings or walking on streets of Manhattan," Hochul said in an interview Wednesday morning.
NYPD officers were seen outside the Parkchester Jame Masjid on Virginia Avenue taking photos and beginning plans for the funeral. Worshippers say they expect hundreds of people to attend the service, and police say barricades will be in place to ensure safety.
Islam, a devoted police officer, husband and father, was just weeks away from welcoming his third child.
According to police, he was working as an off-duty security guard for a private company when he was killed.
Hyman and Islam were among the four people killed in Monday's attack. The other victims have been identified as Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner and security officer Aland Etienne.
On Tuesday, a motorcade led the way as officers, family and community members lined the streets to salute Islam during a dignified transfer to the mosque. Crowds gathered later Tuesday night in Bryant Park to remember the four innocent lives taken. Flags across the state are flying at half-staff to honor the victims.
Investigators have said the 27-year-old gunman traveled from Las Vegas and tried to target the NFL's headquarters, which is located inside 345 Park Ave. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said NYPD teams have been sent to Las Vegas to help investigate. Sources say a coworker purchased part of the M4 rifle Tamura later used in the shooting, and detectives are interviewing that associate.
"Looking at the gun that was used and the gun in the vehicle. And the second team is conducting a search warrant of the home of the perpetrator," Adams said in an interview Wednesday morning.
While the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, the mayor said Tuesday that police found a note in which the shooter mentioned CTE, a brain disease most common in athletes who play contact sports. Police said he also had a documented history of mental illness.