In late July, tragedy struck in Midtown Manhattan, one of the most secure areas in New York City. At 345 Park Avenue—home to high-profile offices including the NFL—a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, entered the building armed with an AR-style rifle. He fired dozens of rounds, killing four people (including an off-duty NYPD officer assigned to building security) and injuring another before taking his own life. It appears he may have intended to target the NFL; investigators found a rambling note referencing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the NFL’s role in brain injuries, and a plea to “Study my brain.” 

In response, the NFL has issued a memo directing teams and facilities to immediately enhance security. This includes revising threat assessments, ensuring armed officers be present when staff are present, and instituting weapons screenings via magnetometers and X-ray scanners—closely mirroring stadium protocols. A league-wide security meeting is scheduled for August 26 to formalize these steps. 

New Threat in Atlanta: CDC under Fire

Just this week, another targeted attack unfolded—this time at the CDC’s Roybal Campus in Atlanta, when 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White opened fire on several CDC buildings from across the street near a CVS pharmacy. He fatally wounded a DeKalb County Officer and caused extensive damage—over 180 rounds fired, 150 windows shattered, and more than 100 doors compromised. The shooter appeared to blame the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental distress, fueled by conspiracy theories.

The CDC responded by tightening security: employees were directed to work remotely, all-staff meetings moved online, and vehicle decals identifying CDC affiliation were removed.

Why This Matters for Corporate Security

These events underscore unsettling truths:

  • Grievance-driven attacks like these often stem from deeply held beliefs, mental health breakdowns, or conspiracy-fueled rage—making detection especially difficult.
  • Facilities—even with strong defenses—are vulnerable when external threats are determined and methodical.
  • Effective security must go beyond simple deterrence; it must interpret behavior, connect intelligence dots, and adapt swiftly to emerging patterns of violence.

Forward-Looking Security Practices

Here’s how organizations can rise to these evolving challenges:

  • Threat Assessment & Physical Infrastructure: Integrate access control, screening, and threat modeling across all points—from public-facing entry to internal mobility.
  • Behavioral Intelligence & OSINT: Monitor public chatter, social media, and fringe narratives that may indicate emerging threats.
  • Incident Integration & Investigative Case Management: Use tools that unify physical, behavioral, and investigation data into actionable, shareable insights.
  • Response Readiness: Practice tabletop drills that account for ideological or grievance-based violence—reacting swiftly to evolving realities, not static scenarios.

Looking Ahead

We offer our deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by these tragic events. If your organization is reassessing security readiness—particularly in how you detect and track intent—Kaseware is here to help amplify your posture and shift security from reactive to preventive.

Staying ahead of hate isn’t just possible—it’s necessary.

– The Kaseware Team