A 17-year-old boy fell to his death early in the morning on Saturday 20th May 2023 while attempting a social media stunt on a Los Angeles bridge, according to local police.
Authorities were dispatched to the 6th Street Viaduct at around 2am, where they discovered the teenager. He was subsequently pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
His family identified him as Anthony Luna.
During a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday, Police Chief Michel Moore revealed that Anthony had slipped and fallen while climbing onto one of the bridge’s arches in order to record a social media broadcast.
However, the teen’s family is disputing that claim, saying the fall was simply a tragic accident.
Anthony’s father, Paul Luna, expressed his frustration with Moore, saying he has seen a video of the fall and said his son was not climbing the bridge to post it on any online sites.
“He didn’t even care about social media.”
Anthony’s father, Paul Luna
The father said his son didn’t even have his phone on him at the time.
The bridge in question, which opened to the public in July of last year, replaced an 84-year-old Art Deco span and spans a distance of 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) over the Los Angeles River, lined with concrete.
It serves as a vital connection between downtown Los Angeles and the historic Eastside.
With its thousands of LED lights and captivating views of the city’s skyline, the bridge was designed to become a notable landmark and stands as the largest and most expensive span ever constructed in the city.
However, since its opening, the bridge has faced challenges in maintaining public safety. Due to its popularity, it has become a focal point for street racing, graffiti, and illegal takeovers, attracting large crowds to witness dangerous vehicle stunts.
Additionally, social media stunts have become commonplace, including incidents such as a man receiving a haircut in the middle of the bridge’s lanes.
The bridge has also witnessed other fatal incidents in the recent past. In January 2023, an unauthorised music video filming resulted in the shooting death of an individual on the bridge.
