New York, NY – In the wake of the horrifying mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, tech billionaire Elon Musk has broken his silence and issued a powerful statement of support and solidarity.
Speaking just hours after news broke that five lives were lost—including a father of two, a young intern, and several innocent office workers—Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) with a heartfelt message:
“What happened today in New York is not just tragic—it’s unforgivable. No one should have to go to work and never return home. I stand with the victims and their families.”
But that wasn’t all.
In a stunning move that’s already drawing both praise and scrutiny, Musk announced he will donate up to $20 million to support the families affected by the shooting and to help improve security infrastructure in commercial buildings across the U.S.
According to his post, the funds will be distributed in two parts:
$10 million in direct aid to the families of the deceased and injured victims
$10 million toward developing AI-powered security systems and funding mental health screenings in high-risk areas
Musk wrote:
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about doing something. If tech can land rockets, it can help stop violence. I’ll make sure of it.”
A Polarizing Promise
While many are praising Musk’s swift response and generosity, others have raised eyebrows, questioning whether his proposal for “AI-driven threat detection” could spark privacy concerns or surveillance issues. Still, families impacted by the tragedy say the gesture is appreciated.
A cousin of Didarul Islam, the NYPD security officer who died protecting others during the attack, responded emotionally on Facebook:
“My cousin was a hero. He gave his life for strangers. If Mr. Musk wants to help make sure no other family suffers this, I welcome it.”
The City Responds
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that his office has been in contact with representatives from Musk’s team at Tesla and SpaceX.
“New York is hurting,” the mayor said at a press conference. “And when someone with global influence like Elon Musk steps forward to help, we take notice.”
Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, stating:
“If even a fraction of this donation goes to strengthening building security and mental health access, it could be the beginning of something bigger.”
A Global Conversation
Within an hour of Musk’s announcement, the hashtag #MuskManhattanPledge began trending across social media platforms. Some are calling it a publicity move, others call it leadership. But no one is ignoring it.
A survivor of the attack said quietly from his hospital bed:
“We lost friends, coworkers… But maybe this is the spark that forces people to act. Not just tweet. Act.”
As investigations continue and the city mourns its loss, all eyes now turn to what Musk will do next—and whether others in positions of power will follow his lead.
