Julia Hyman: 5 things to know about Cornell graduate employee shot in NYC mass shooting

Julia Hyman sought refuge in a panic room during a Midtown mass shooting but was fatally shot by gunman Shane Tamura.

Julia Hyman, a Cornell University graduate and employee at the management firm that owned the Midtown skyscraper, was tragically killed in the recent Manhattan shooting carried out by Shane Tamura. Remembered as a “special” and dedicated member of her community, hundreds of mourners gathered at a Manhattan synagogue on Wednesday to honor her life and pay their final respects.

Julia Hyman was shot by gunman Shane Tamura after briefly leaving a fortified panic room during a Midtown mass shooting. (Bloomberg)

5 facts about Julia Hyman

1. Hyman graduated summa cum laude from the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration in 2020, with a minor in real estate.

2. Hyman was a 27-year-old who was working as an employee at Rudin Management for less than a year after prior experience at Sagehall Partners, as reported by ABC7.

3. She was a native of Manhattan, previously a scholar-athlete and varsity lacrosse team captain at the Riverdale School in the Bronx.

4. She unfortunately became one of the four victims in the NYC mass shooting that occurred on July 28, 2025.

5. Her alma mater, Cornell, and employer, Rudin, publicly mourned her on Wednesday with heartfelt tributes from friends and family.

Tributes paid to Julia Hyman at her funeral

Hyman's uncle said, "No words — that has been the overarching theme of so many messages I have received over the past 24 hours," during the somber funeral service held just three weeks from the Park Avenue office building where she was shot, as reported by The New York Post.

He continued, "With seemingly innate emotional intelligence, Julia knew how to connect in a deep and meaningful way with those around her. Julia was truly wise beyond her age. Julia knew this and lived life with wide open eyes and courage and conviction. She didn’t just go to the party. She planned it all, made the playlist and served as the DJ.”

Her other family friend described her as a hard worker, a mentor for younger staffers, and a “highly positive” presence for everyone around her, in an eulogy for Hyman.