KPMG tells staff to work from home in internal memo after Midtown shooting: 'a terrible, tragic, and frightening event'
In a memo sent to staff at 11:04 p.m. on Monday, the Big Four consulting firm told staff to plan to work from home or another KPMG office on Tuesday. The memo, which Business Insider has seen, was signed by Yesenia Scheker Izquierdo, the managing partner for KPMG's New York office.
KPMG has offices on several floors of the office block at 345 Park Avenue. On Monday evening, 27-year-old Shane Tamura was captured on security camera footage entering the building with an M4 rifle.
He opened fire in the lobby and proceeded to the 33rd floor, the office of Rudin Management, a real estate company and the owner of the property. Among the four victims were an NYPD officer and an executive at the asset management firm Blackstone. Tamura was found dead at the scene.
In the memo sent to staff that evening, KPMG called the shooting "a terrible, tragic, and frightening event."
"Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families. We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement, who continue to investigate, clear the building and evacuate remaining personnel," the memo said.
The firm said in the memo that the 345 office would remain closed on Tuesday "in support of law enforcement continuing their activities."
"Firm and New York leadership are working closely with security, law enforcement, and people relations to make sure we connect with and account for all personnel in our NYC offices," the firm told staff.
"We will communicate when the office is open, and understand you may have left belongings in the office," the memo continued.
A KPMG spokesperson confirmed to BI that the office was closed on Tuesday and that employees could work from home.
"At this time, we are not aware of any significant physical injuries to our KPMG colleagues," the memo said.
In the memo, KPMG advised employees to respond to the "emergency text messages sent to everyone at KPMG in NYC."
A KPMG employee told BI that two messages were sent to their corporate phone on Monday evening at around 7 p.m. asking them to confirm whether they were safe or needed assistance.
"This is KPMG. Law enforcement is onsite at 345 Park. Please continue sheltering in place until given further instructions by onsite law enforcement," the second of the messages said, according to a screenshot seen by BI.
"Press 1 if you are okay and press 2 if you need assistance."
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