A Tragedy at 345 Park Avenue: What If the 3rd‑i App Had Been Active?
On the evening of July 28, 2025, tragedy struck the heart of New York City. A gunman, later identified as Shane Devon Tamura, entered 345 Park Avenue, a high-rise housing major companies like Blackstone, the NFL, and KPMG and opened fire.
Four lives were taken, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, before the shooter made his way to the 33rd floor, injuring another victim and taking his own life.
Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who lost loved ones. No words can ease that pain, but as a safety company, we believe it’s our responsibility to ask: What if technology had helped change the outcome?
What Could Have Been Different with 3rd‑i
3rd‑i was built for moments just like this. When something feels off. When you’re walking alone. Or when tragedy strikes, and seconds matter.
With 3rd‑i, users can stream live video, audio, and their exact location to trusted contacts with just a tap. More importantly, by pressing a discreet in-app SOS button, the app sends the user’s livestream and GPS location to emergency dispatchers, who can see, hear, and communicate back via text in real time. All discreetly. Imagine this during the Park Avenue shooting:
- A bystander in the lobby discreetly presses the SOS button.
- Within seconds, dispatchers are watching live video of the shooter and track the location.
- Responders are given a clear visual of the threat—where he’s headed, what he’s carrying, and who is nearby.
- Trusted contacts and loved ones are instantly notified.
This isn’t a far-off vision. It’s available today.
Coming Soon: Community Safety, Reimagined
While our live-streaming SOS feature focuses on personal safety, we’re expanding to make community safety just as powerful.
Our upcoming social features will allow users to post safety incidents tied to their location, visible only to people nearby, either in the same zip code or on the same college campus.
Think of it as a real-time, safety-focused feed where people can:
- Alert others to dangerous situations they witness
- Share suspicious behavior with their local community
- Stay informed about what’s happening around them, before it’s too late
In a city as fast-paced as New York, or on a college campus where safety news travels slowly, real-time community awareness can be lifesaving.
From Reaction to Prevention
What happened on July 28 is devastating. But it also reminds us why we’re building 3rd‑i:
To shift from reacting after tragedy to trying to prevent it altogether.
Whether you’re commuting in Midtown, walking home after class, or heading to work before sunrise, you deserve to feel safe. At 3rd‑i, We Made Safety Social. You have eyes, ears, and support, right in the palm of your hand.
To the victims and their families: we extend our deepest condolences. We will continue to build, fight, and innovate in your memory—so no one has to go through what you did.
Stay aware. Stay safe. Stay connected—with 3rd‑i.