Teen Dies After Fall in Abandoned New Orleans High-Rise
A 17-year-old boy died after falling from an open stairwell inside the derelict Plaza Tower in downtown New Orleans, police said. A group of teens allegedly broke into the vacant high-rise for urban exploring, and at least some were believed…
Portland, OR, August 15, 2026 —
A 17-year-old male has died after falling inside the abandoned Plaza Tower in downtown New Orleans, according to police reports. The incident occurred when a group of teenagers allegedly gained unauthorized access to the vacant 45-floor building for the purpose of urban exploring.
Authorities stated that at least some individuals in the group were believed to be underage and consuming alcohol at the time of the incident. The deceased teen reportedly fell from an open stairwell within the derelict structure.
Plaza Tower has been abandoned since 2002, primarily due to contamination issues. The building has a documented history of disrepair. This tragedy follows a previous death at the same location in 2023, which also involved a fall.
The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The names of the individuals involved, beyond the age of the deceased, have not been released by authorities.
Story summarized from the original created by Ken Daley, Gray News staff on www.kptv.com, see more information here.
