The internet is reacting in the worst way possible to the tragic mass shooting at a Manhattan office building this week — mocking one of the victims with a tasteless meme and sparking outrage across social media.
Wesley LePatner — a respected real estate executive and senior managing director at Blackstone — was one of four people fatally shot by gunman Shane Tamura during a horrifying attack inside a Midtown skyscraper on Monday night. But instead of mourning her loss, online trolls are turning her death into viral content.
A now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter) features a corporate headshot of LePatner with the word “LUIGI’D” stamped across her face in bold red letters. The caption? “Wesley LePatner, CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, has been evicted from the mortal plane.”
Yes, seriously.
The twisted post — referencing Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in a similarly shocking office shooting last year — has racked up thousands of likes, sparking debate over the line between internet humor and inhumane cruelty.
From Real Estate Powerhouse to Tragic Headline
Wesley LePatner was a key figure at Blackstone, overseeing the company’s $53 billion Real Estate Income Trust portfolio. She was widely respected in finance and corporate real estate circles for her leadership and innovation. Her murder, along with three others at 345 Park Avenue, has left a deep scar in both her industry and personal networks.
Blackstone, Deutsche Bank, and even the NFL’s New York offices operate out of the 345 Park Ave building — and investigators now believe the NFL was Tamura’s primary target.
Shooter’s Note Blames NFL for “CTE”
According to law enforcement, shooter Shane Tamura left behind a disturbing suicide note in which he claimed to suffer from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma and often associated with football players.
Tamura reportedly blamed the NFL for his condition and planned to carry out a mass shooting at their corporate office. Fortunately, police say he failed to find the correct elevator, but tragically, that didn’t stop the violence.
Tamura went on to open fire inside the building, killing four individuals — including LePatner, an off-duty NYPD officer, and two others — before turning the gun on himself and dying from a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.
Cruel Comparisons to Luigi Mangione
The “LUIGI’D” reference stems from another shocking executive murder in New York last December, when Luigi Mangione was accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. That killing was highly targeted, and Mangione’s journals reportedly expressed deep hatred for the healthcare industry.
In one chilling note, Mangione reportedly wrote, “The best plan is to wack [sic] the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.”
Since then, mysterious posters appeared in Midtown that seemed to threaten other C-suite executives, raising concerns about a disturbing trend of anti-corporate violence — and now, with this latest attack, the internet is drawing vile parallels.
Meme Culture Meets Murder
The phrase “LUIGI’D” is now being used as a meme across corners of the internet that appear to be celebrating the deaths of powerful executives — regardless of their background or the context of their deaths.
While some users claim it’s just “dark humor,” critics argue it’s dehumanizing and shows a disturbing shift in how society processes mass tragedy.
“These are real people, with families, friends, and children,” wrote one X user in response to the viral image. “This isn’t a meme. This is someone’s worst nightmare.”
Unfortunately, others seem to see it differently. The now-infamous post remains active, with dozens of copycats spreading across Reddit, TikTok, and other platforms.
Tensions Rise Between U.S. and Chile Over Exec Safety
The shooting comes just days after Chilean authorities announced they’d returned $125,000 worth of luxury watches to actor Keanu Reeves, recovered after a South American burglary ring targeted his Los Angeles home. That same crew had also allegedly hit the home of NFL star Travis Kelce.
Ironically, Kristi Noem, the former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security under Donald Trump, had flown into Santiago, Chile, to discuss transnational crime groups and executive safety — just months after a Chilean national stole her handbag in a Washington D.C. restaurant.
Now, with another high-profile American executive gunned down in her own workplace, the issue of corporate security — both physical and digital — is back under a microscope.
What Happens Next?
Investigators continue to piece together Tamura’s exact motive and movements in the days before the attack. NYPD has not confirmed whether the victims were random or if he specifically targeted LePatner and others.
The larger question now is how the corporate world will respond to what’s beginning to look like a pattern — high-ranking executives being killed not for personal disputes, but as symbolic targets of rage against institutions like healthcare, finance, and pro sports.
And then there’s the internet — where a death can go from headline to hashtag in hours, and a tragedy can turn into a meme by the afternoon.
Let’s Keep This Human
Wesley LePatner wasn’t just a “CEO” or “corporate exec.” She was a daughter, a colleague, a leader, and a human being. Turning her death into a joke doesn’t just disrespect her — it erases her.
It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to question institutions. But celebrating death isn’t activism — it’s cruelty.
💬 What are your thoughts on this trend of trolling real-life tragedies? Is it dark humor or just plain evil? Let us know in the comments below.
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