Teen dies falling in abandoned New Orleans skyscraper during nighttime exploration

A 17-year-old student from Belle Chasse, Louisiana, died after falling inside the abandoned 45-story Plaza Tower in downtown New Orleans, police said. Jacque St Ann and a group of friends broke into the fenced-off building, which has sat derelict for years, and climbed to an upper floor around midnight on 15 August. As they attempted to descend an interior staircase, Jacque fell to his death. Police declined to specify which floor he fell from, citing respect for his family.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, and the coroner attributed his death to blunt force injuries from the fall. Another teen in the group suffered a deep laceration to an arm and wrist and was hospitalized. Authorities did not disclose the total number of teens present, noting some may have left before the fall occurred.

Warnings after the tragedy

Following the incident, police publicly warned against "urban exploring," describing Plaza Tower as an unsafe, deteriorating structure made more dangerous by darkness. A police superintendent said trespassing charges against Jacque's friends remain a possibility after a period of mourning. Experienced urban explorers also spoke out, discouraging young people from entering such buildings due to the physical risks involved.

A long-neglected building

Plaza Tower, now 58 years old, has been vacant since before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2021, falling debris from the structure injured a passing cyclist, prompting installation of protective netting. The building is owned by an entity tied to the estate of the late developer Joe Jaeger, who died in 2024. Over the years, the city fined Jaeger and secured a court order for demolition, but plans stalled amid financing troubles; demolition is estimated to cost $25m to $28m.

New Orleans' mayoral administration said it would continue working toward securing the site and supporting its redevelopment, though no firm timeline or demolition requirement currently exists, since the property remains privately owned. Police said patrols around the tower would be temporarily increased following Jacque's death.