Blackstone’s Wesley LePatner Dies in NYC Mass Shooting

Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner was among those killed on Monday evening during a mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue, the company said.

LePatner was shot by a lone gunman in the lobby of 345 Park Avenue, authorities said. Four people died in the attack, including a New York City police officer.

“Words cannot express the devastation we feel. Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed,” the company said in a statement. The Real Deal first reported that LePatner died in the shooting.

“She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond. She embodied the best of Blackstone.” 

LePatner, 43, had served as CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust since Jan. 1. She previously served as BREIT’s COO. Before joining Blackstone in 2013, she was a managing director in Goldman Sachs’ Real Estate Investment Group.

In a 2023 interview with CPE, the executive described her youthful fascination with never-ending construction in New York City and dinner-table conversation with her parents. Her father, Barry LePatner, is an attorney specializing in construction issues and a longtime columnist for CPE.

A real estate career “felt natural and relatable to me,” Wesley LePatner told CPE. “After all, the sector touches the trends we all encounter in our daily lives.”

In that interview, LePatner said that she encouraged women to step up and embrace challenges. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned and grown the most when I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone,” she said.