Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

College Student Falls To Death While Taking "Panoramic" Photo Outside Four Seasons Hotel


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 31, 2015

Modified Dec 31, 2015


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 .


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 31, 2015

Modified Dec 31, 2015


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 20-year-old college student from NJ was found dead on a roof of the Four Seasons Hotel last night. It's believed that Connor Cummings, 20, and a friend were scaling the midtown Manhattan hotel's facade to take a photograph when Cummings slipped and fell.

Police say that they responded to the hotel, located at 57 East 57th Street, at 11:15 p.m. A spokesman says that Cummings, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was found on a sub-roof (the Four Season has setbacks for different floors).

The Daily News reports, "As [Cummings and his friend] climbed in the pouring rain, one of the pair either jumped or fell, plunging nine stories until he landed on one of the lower rooftops of the luxury hotel."

The pair had used the scaffolding outside the hotel to climb up. According to the Post, Cummings was "attempt[ing] to take a 'panoramic' photograph."

Cummings, who lived in Rockaway, NJ, graduated from Morris Knoll High School last year and was a student at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His family told WABC 7 that he was a photography buff.

His aunt told the news station, "We're trying to get answers. They say that he went up the elevator, and then went up a stairway, and then went out on a balcony, but the cops aren't saying exactly what happened. And, I know the medical examiner was up there. I mean, he's a young kid, he's a good kid, they weren't drinking or anything, they were taking a picture."

Tagged

connor cummings

fatal fall

four seasons hotel

manhattan

midtown

panoramic photograph


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said she felt disappointed by the lack of details.

By

Jessica Gould

Published Oct 20, 2026 at 10:01 p.m. ET


Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say

The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.

By

Charles Lane

News

Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say

The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.

By

Charles Lane


16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K

By

Giulia Heyward

Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city

By

Catalina Gonella

New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino

By

Willow Higgins


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 .