Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
9-Year-Old Boy Found Dead Atop Scaffolding In The Bronx
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 24, 2014
Modified Apr 24, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Google Maps
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 24, 2014
Modified Apr 24, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A young boy was discovered dead on top of scaffolding in The Bronx last night, according to the NYPD. Investigators believe he toppled off the roof of a 46-floor building.
Cops say they found the boy, identified as nine-year-old Sidy Fofana, at around 5 p.m. on top of scaffolding at 20 Richman Plaza, a 46-story high rise in Morris Heights. Sidy, who lived at that address, was declared dead at the scene.
Witnesses told the Daily News Sidy fell from the 26th floor. "Two guys were shouting ‘Oh s---! A body! A body!’ I looked up and I saw. He landed on the scaffold,” Marlene Mevlin, who lives in the building, told the tabloid. “That was a very big boy.”
Family members, meanwhile, say that Sidy—who was a fourth grader at Harlem Success Academy—was sent from his 4th floor apartment to his uncle's apartment on the 43rd floor to pick up money for chicken wings and french fries. "He said, 'Mommy, I can go and I'll come back," Sidy's mother, Sanata Diakite, told DNAinfo. "He just wanted to get the food for his uncle." Diakite was informed of her son's death at around 5:15 p.m. yesterday. "They asked me what my son looked like and how old he was and what my son was wearing. They showed me the picture of my son's body and asked if that was my son. That was him! That was him!"
Authorities say they are investigating the boy's death, and reportedly believe Sidy may have fallen off the building's roof. Sidy's father, Gaoussou Fofana, told reporters there was no lock or alarm on the roof, though he was not aware of any instance in which his son had tried to access it before.
Sidy, who had four siblings, is expected to be buried in New Jersey.
Tagged
death
morris heights
nypd
sidy fofana
the bronx
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 1:24 p.m. ET
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .