New York, US: A 65-year-old office cleaning woman who survived the recent mass shooting in a Midtown Manhattan high-rise is breaking her silence, recounting the terrifying moments when she came face to face with the armed attacker and miraculously escaped with her life.
“He Pointed His Gun Straight At Me”
Sebije Nelovic, a longtime janitorial worker from Queens, was doing her routine duties on the 33rd floor of 345 Park Avenue when the scene erupted into chaos on Monday night. What started off as a typical evening shift was shattered by sounds she first mistook for firecrackers.
“I was collecting garbage when I heard popping noises,” Sebije recalled. “I stepped out and saw the glass door in front of the reception desk shake, then crash to the ground. Suddenly, this guy appeared in the doorway and pointed his gun straight at me. He started shooting around me. I put my hands up and said, ‘I’m the cleaning lady! I’m the cleaning lady!’”
As the reality of the danger set in, Sebije realized her pleas might not matter to a gunman wielding a rifle.
“I saw he had a machine gun. I knew it didn’t matter who I was. He would shoot, no matter what.”
A Desperate Flight to Safety
Acting on instinct, Sebije bolted down the hallway as bullets flew. She managed to slip into a nearby closet and lock the door, her heart pounding in her chest. “Inside, I just started praying,” she said. “I heard him shouting and walking through the hallway outside the closet. Suddenly, he started shooting at the closet door. I was so scared, but somehow, I was okay.”
Sebije listened as the gunman moved on, each sound outside the closet amplifying her terror. She thought of her colleague, Julia Hyman, who often worked late — a worry that weighed even heavier as the violence continued.
Hours of Fear and Prayers
Inside that cramped closet, Sebije’s phone began buzzing as her supervisor and friends desperately tried to reach her to check on her safety. She answered briefly, whispering that the shooter was on her floor.
“My supervisor told me to stay put and keep quiet. I got worried my phone might make noise that would give me away, so I turned it off and waited,” she shared.
Sebije sat, alone and afraid, for what felt like hours. “It was two, maybe three hours in that closet. I just prayed the whole time.”
Tragic Toll and Lingering Trauma
The shooter, later identified as Shane Tamura, an aggrieved security guard from Las Vegas, was responsible for the deaths of four individuals that night, including 27-year-old Julia Hyman of Rudin Management — a loss that hit Sebije deeply.
“She was so nice,” Sebije said somberly. “I feel so sorry for her and for everyone else lost. It could have been me.”
The ordeal has left Sebije physically unharmed but emotionally shaken. After 27 years working in office buildings, she says she will never return to 345 Park Avenue.
“Now, no more,” Sebije said. “I’m frightened to go there. Every day gets harder. I used to get scared going home late on the subway, but I was never scared to go to work. Now, going to work — that terrifies me.”
Community Support and Moving Forward
The union representing cleaning staff in New York City issued a statement praising Sebije’s courage and resilience. Local leaders and community groups are organizing counseling and support sessions for those impacted by the tragedy.
Mayor Adams, who attended a roll call at the NYPD’s Midtown North precinct shortly after the incident, commended first responders and emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting victims and addressing gun violence. “Our hearts go out to Sebije and all the victims’ families. No one should have to go through this at their place of work.”
Sebije’s story stands as both a testament to survival and a sobering reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can touch everyday lives — and the courage that emerges in the face of unimaginable fear.
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