Office cleaner describes coming face-to-face with Manhattan shooting suspect
Sebije Nelovic, a dedicated cleaner at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, found herself in the midst of a horrifying ordeal on Monday afternoon. After 27 years of faithful service to the glassy high-rise building, she never could have imagined the terror that awaited her.
As she diligently worked on the 33rd floor, the tranquility of her routine was shattered by the jarring sound of gunshots. In a chilling statement released by the 32BJ Service Employees International Union, Nelovic recounted the harrowing encounter with the gunman, Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old armed with a deadly AR-15-style rifle.
Nelovic vividly described the moment when Tamura entered the office tower and aimed his weapon directly at her. With sheer panic setting in, she raised her hands in surrender, pleading with him that she was just a cleaning lady. As bullets flew around her, she managed to flee to safety, seeking refuge in a closet where she locked herself in, trembling with fear.
Alone in the darkness, Nelovic turned to prayer as the sound of gunfire echoed through the building. She reached out to her supervisor via text, but fearing for her life, she powered off her phone to avoid detection. For hours on end, she sat in silence, her heart heavy with dread and uncertainty.
When the gunfire finally ceased, Nelovic’s thoughts turned to Julia Hyman, a young associate at Rudin Management who was meant to be at her desk on the 33rd floor that fateful evening. The news of Hyman’s tragic fate weighed heavily on Nelovic’s heart as she returned home to her family in Queens, seeking solace in their embrace.
As details of the horrific incident unfolded on television, Nelovic learned of the senseless violence that had claimed innocent lives. Hyman, the last victim of Tamura’s rampage before he took his own life, was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
Authorities are still piecing together the puzzle of Tamura’s motives, with Mayor Eric Adams suggesting a misguided attempt to target the NFL headquarters in the building. A note found in Tamura’s possession alluded to his struggles with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition often associated with head trauma in athletes and military veterans.
The tragic events that unfolded at 345 Park Avenue serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of senseless violence. As the community grapples with grief and unanswered questions, Sebije Nelovic’s resilience and courage stand as a testament to the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
