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Man Killed In Elevator Shaft May Have Been "Elevator Surfing"
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 29, 2014
Modified Jul 29, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 29, 2014
Modified Jul 29, 2014
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The young man who died after getting trapped in a Bronx building's elevator shaft yesterday morning was identified as 20-year-old Tino Morales. And police are now investigating whether he had been "surfing" on the elevator.
Morales was trapped between the elevator car and the wall of the shaft, between the 18th and 19th floors at 680 Tinton Avenue, part of the NYC Housing Authority's Adams Houses. The Post reports, "Sources said Morales was riding on top of the elevator as it went down the shaft — although his girlfriend claimed that he climbed on top only after it got stuck." Jessica Sanchez said, "My sister saw everything. She said it was horrible. She saw his body dangling. When the elevator went up, he flew up and then he fell."
Numerous residents said the elevators were unreliable and get stuck; one said to the Daily News that they were "always shaking."
Morales, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was an aspiring tattoo artist. Sanchez said, "Before he left, he was like, ‘I love you baby.' He was just telling me he really really loves me."
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elevator shaft
elevator surfing
Tino Morales
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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