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11.30.2010

2-year-old dies from fall at lakers game

Heard about this terrible, tragic story from last week... In Los Angeles, a 2-year-old died during a Lakers game after falling from a third-level skybox at the Staples Center: Boy who fell from skybox died of multiple injuries.

According to the Los Angeles County coroner, Lucas Anthony Tang died from multiple traumatic injuries after falling about 30 feet into a row of seats. The death has been officially ruled an accident:
The toddler fell from a third-level luxury box and landed on a row of seats minutes after the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors. He died at a hospital.

The Lakers held a moment of silence for Tang before Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls. The luxury box from where he fell was filled with fans as usual.

The Police Department’s juvenile division launched a probe and the arena also was investigating.

The division procedurally investigates sudden deaths of children under 11, and the probe did not necessarily indicate a crime was involved, Officer Julie Sohn said.

Sohn released few details of the incident, saying only that the boy’s family was taking photographs and “somehow the child went over the edge of the section.”
This is apparently the first time something like this has happened in the 11-year history of the Staples Center. It's horrifying and heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to the child's family. More here: Death of boy who fell from Staples Center luxury box ruled an accident.