New York, NY – Cornell University has released a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of alumna 2020 graduate, who was tragically killed in Monday’s shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building.
Julia, a summa cum laude graduate from the Nolan School of Hotel Administration, was one of four victims fatally shot by 27-year-old gunman Shane Tamura inside the Park Avenue high-rise where she worked as an associate at Rudin Management. She had recently returned to campus earlier this summer for her five-year reunion.
In an official message to the Cornell community, University President Michael I. Kotlikoff expressed profound grief and solidarity:
“Today, I join you in mourning the loss of Julia Hyman, a 2020 graduate of the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration… We are devastated for Julia’s friends and family, including her parents and sister Ali, a 2017 graduate of the College of Human Ecology,” the statement read.
President Kotlikoff extended condolences not only to the Hyman family but also to the families of the three other victims, including NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner and an unidentified security guard. He also acknowledged Cornell faculty and staff who work in the vicinity of the shooting and endured lockdown procedures during the incident.
The university further praised the Weill Cornell Medicine emergency and trauma teams for their swift action in treating victims and providing support to the NYPD and grieving families gathered at the Upper East Side medical campus.
Gunman Targeted NFL Headquarters, Took Wrong Elevator
Authorities say the shooter, Tamura, had a history of mental illness and left behind a note expressing anger toward the NFL, citing a supposed brain disorder. Police believe he had intended to attack the NFL’s headquarters, located on lower floors of the same building, but mistakenly took the elevator to the 33rd floor, where he opened fire on employees of Rudin Management.
Julia Hyman, only 27, had built a strong reputation in the real estate and hospitality sectors in just a few short years. After graduation, she began her career at Sagehall Partners, a firm founded by a fellow Cornell alumnus. Her death has left both the Cornell and New York business communities in shock.
A Community in Mourning
President Kotlikoff concluded his statement with praise for the resilience of the community and gratitude for the healthcare professionals on the front lines:
“We are all so proud of the care and comfort you provided.”
Cornell has not announced plans for a formal memorial but students, alumni and faculty have begun sharing messages of grief and remembrance across social media and alumni networks.
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