By Danielle Arfin
Julia Hyman, 27, a young Jewish Cornell University graduate and associate at Rudin Management, was killed in the July 28 mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.
Hyman graduated summa cum laude in 2020 from Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration with a minor in real estate and joined Rudin Management in November 2024. Colleagues described her as bright, ambitious, and deeply dedicated to her work. According to the university, she had recently returned for her five-year class reunion.
The gunman, Shane Tamura, had reportedly driven from Las Vegas to New York City intending to confront the NFL over perceived injuries tied to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). But he mistakenly exited on the 33rd floor, where Hyman’s office was located, and fatally shot her before taking his own life.
Police recovered an AR-15-style rifle, multiple rounds of ammunition, and handwritten notes blaming the NFL and referencing head trauma. Authorities stated there was no connection between Tamura and any of the victims.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff both condemned the violence and mourned Hyman’s loss. Nolan School Dean Kate Walsh praised her as “an extraordinary student whose academic achievements and intellectual curiosity made a lasting impression.”
Hyman’s life, filled with purpose and promise, was tragically cut short.
