A teenager was severely injured Monday evening after falling nearly 20 stories inside an abandoned grain elevator in Minneapolis.
Around 8:30 p.m., Minneapolis police reported that a group of young individuals had trespassed inside the decommissioned Checkerboard Grain Elevator near 38th Street and Hiawatha Avenue. Three of the group’s members were between the ages of 16 and 17, while the other three ranged from 18 to 20.
One of them, an 18-year-old, fell onto an elevated platform, sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Minneapolis firefighters had to use a ladder truck to reach the teen and offer medical care, according to authorities.
Neighbors and staff say the 18-year-old was filming a social media video. Residents say they’ve made hundreds of phone calls over the years to try to convince the city to do something about the building, which is routinely climbed by so-called “urban explorers.”
According to Minneapolis Public Information Officer Garrett Parten, police have responded to approximately 12 calls at the silos this year. Something horrific happened inside the elevator. “It’s something we expected to happen,” neighbor Vox Payne explained. “We’ve talked about it a lot with the city, other neighbors, and the police, and we’ve been warning them that something awful is going to happen, which we know it is. When we heard those screams, the first thing that came to mind was that there were teenagers up there. “Something bad occurred.”
According to Parten, approximately 80 “urban exploring” occurrences were reported in the First and Second Precincts last year. He stated that there had been approximately 100 so far this year. It’s unfortunate because, in reality, this is a person out having fun and seeking adventure who made a poor mistake that ended in life-altering injuries. But, while they are looking for fun and excitement, what they are doing is unlawful and extremely hazardous,” Parten explained.
Parten warned that similar incidents might result in charges ranging from misdemeanor trespassing to felony property damage.
“The building’s ownership changed three years ago.” Our sympathies are with the young man who was hurt and his family, and we hope that everyone will join us in praying for them. The investigation into what happened and why is still underway, and we are committed to assistance in any way we can,” stated a spokeswoman for Checkerboard LLC, the property owner.
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