Aland Etienne, an unarmed security officer who was among the victims in a shooting on Monday at an office tower in New York, was a devoted father of two school-aged children and a well-respected employee, according to relatives.
Mr. Etienne, 46, whose family is from Haiti, was working a shift in the building at 345 Park Avenue when a gunman burst into the lobby. Mr. Etienne ducked behind a security desk to take cover, according to the police.
But as the gunman approached an elevator bank near the desk, he fatally shot Mr. Etienne.
Family members and the union that represented Mr. Etienne, Local 32BJ, identified him as one of the victims killed in the attack.
His brother, Gathmand Etienne, confirmed Mr. Etienne’s death but said in a brief telephone interview that he was not in a state of mind to speak further. He wrote in a social media post that “he was more than a brother.”
“He was a father, a son, and a light in our lives,” he wrote. “Our hearts are shattered.”
Mr. Etienne was an employee of McLane Security and held a license as an unarmed registered security guard. It was unclear how long he had worked in the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. He had completed a mandatory introductory course for security officers in 2017 and separate on-the-job training — which must be done within 90 days of employment — in October 2021, according to state records.
The Rudins, the real estate family who own the Park Avenue building, described Mr. Etienne in a statement as a “beloved” presence in the main lobby.
And Manny Pastreich, the president of Local 32BJ, called Mr. Etienne a “dedicated security officer who took his job duties extremely seriously.” He said that the tragedy underscored the immense sacrifice that security officers make in risking their lives to protect New Yorkers. Local 32BJ represents about 90,000 New York City workers including security guards and janitors.
“Their contributions to our city are essential, though often unappreciated,” Mr. Pastreich said in a statement on Tuesday. “Aland Etienne is a New York hero. We will remember him as such.”
The victim’s sister, Mabline Etienne, said in a brief telephone interview that she could not stop thinking about her big brother’s warm, inviting smile. She described him as a naturally gregarious and lighthearted pillar of the family, who often felt most fulfilled when he could spend time with relatives.
“He was a great person with a great character,” Ms. Etienne said, before trailing off. “Always happy, always smiling.”
Susan C. Beachy contributed research.
Troy Closson is a Times education reporter focusing on K-12 schools.
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