Police said the 17-year-old fell from an open stairwell inside Plaza Tower after a group of teenagers entered the fenced property.
NEW ORLEANS — A 17-year-old boy from Belle Chasse died early Aug. 15 after falling from an open stairwell inside the vacant Plaza Tower in downtown New Orleans while exploring the building with a group of other teenagers, police said.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the group, whose exact size was not immediately disclosed, entered the fenced-off high-rise shortly before midnight Aug. 14. The teenagers were from Plaquemines Parish and had gone into the building for what police described as urban exploration. Authorities said the tower is privately owned and was not open to the public.
A 911 call requesting medical help was received at about 12:04 a.m. Aug. 15. New Orleans EMS personnel entered the building and found the 17-year-old dead after the fall, authorities said. Another teenager suffered serious cuts to an arm and wrist and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police did not immediately release the name of the teen who died.
Investigators said the group had climbed to a higher level of the 45-story building using an interior staircase that no longer had safety railings. Kirkpatrick did not disclose the exact floor from which the teenager fell, saying that detail remained part of the investigation. Police said at least some members of the group had been drinking alcohol, although investigators had not determined what role, if any, alcohol played in the fall.
Authorities said the teens apparently gained access despite fencing around the property. Kirkpatrick said trespassing could be considered as the investigation continues, but she indicated that officials were focused first on the death and the effect it had on the teenagers and their families. Police also had not ruled out examining whether the property owner could face any legal consequences related to security at the building.
Plaza Tower, at 1001 Howard Ave., has stood vacant for years and has become one of the city’s most visible troubled properties. The 58-year-old tower has remained empty since before Hurricane Katrina and has deteriorated over time. Portions of the building have been covered with protective netting because of concerns about material falling from the exterior.
The death renewed scrutiny of security around the high-rise. On Aug. 17, New Orleans officials said Alexandria Land & Development LLC, the estate of the late Joe Jaeger, is the property owner and has the legal responsibility to keep unauthorized people from entering. The city said police temporarily increased patrols around Plaza Tower following the teen’s death.
City officials said they have worked during the past 12 to 18 months to address safety concerns at the property, including evaluating the structure and reducing hazards related to falling exterior debris. An assessment found the main building structurally sound, according to the city, but officials said the vacant site still must be monitored and secured because exterior panels and other materials continue to pose concerns.
The tower’s future also remains uncertain. Officials said there is no current requirement that the owner demolish or redevelop Plaza Tower and no definite redevelopment plan is in place. The city estimated that demolition could cost between $25 million and $28 million. Officials have said they would prefer to see the property redeveloped rather than demolished.
A purchase agreement involving Lincoln Area Properties was announced in July 2025, with plans discussed for converting the tower into senior housing, but financing had not closed at the time of the teen’s death. City officials said they are also studying a designation that could make future housing redevelopment easier to finance.
The Plaquemines Parish School District said it was grieving the death of one of its students and was making counselors and other support personnel available to students and staff. The district asked that the family’s privacy be respected and said it would not release additional details while the investigation remained active.
Police had not announced criminal charges related to the teen’s death as of the latest reports. Investigators continued examining how the group entered Plaza Tower, the circumstances leading to the fall and whether alcohol or security conditions played a role. City officials said the property owner remains responsible for securing the vacant building.
Author note: Last updated August 18, 2026.