Aug 20, 2008 9:41 am US/Eastern
Elevator In Brooklyn Tragedy 'Malfunctioned' Often
5-Year-Old Child Fell At Least 10 Stories; Elevator Failed Its Most Recent Inspection, Malfunctioned At Least 5 Times Since February
NEWARK (CBS) ―
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A neighbor of Jacob Neuman, the 5-year-old boy who fell to his death after an elevator in his apartment building became stuck, reacts at a mourning gathering after his tragic death.
CBS
A 5-year-old boy on his way to school died tragically Tuesday when he fell 10 stories to his death in a Brooklyn apartment building elevator shaft.
According to published reports Wednesday morning, the elevator that claimed the boy's life had failed its most recent inspection and had malfunctioned at least five times since February.
There was plenty of grief outside the funeral service which was held in accordance with Orthodox Judaism, just hours after young Jacob died.
"He's a special boy, a special, special boy. He was very good hearted," said neighbor Pessie Gelb.
The boy, identified as Jacob Neuman, who was in the elevator with his older brother, fell after the elevator he was in became stuck between floors and he apparently tried jumping out of the elevator onto the tenth floor.
Wails of sadness and disbelief were heard outside the chapel where the funeral was being held for the boy, whose orthodox Jewish religion dictated that the funeral be held immediately.
"He's a special, special little boy, good boy, very good-hearted.He was very good with my child," said Pessie Gelb, who lives in the building.
Police say the two boys were being watched by their 14-year-old sister while their parents were out shopping. It was during that time Jacob and his 8-year-old brother, Isreal, stepped onto the elevator to go to school. But once inside, the elevator became stuck between the tenth and eleventh floors. The 8-year-old pressed a button and the doors then opened while the elevator was in between the two floors.
That's when Jacob jumped out. He landed on the tenth floor, but then slipped back and fell between the floor and the bottom of the elevator into the shaft.
"Well, its not understandable, but its possible because the elevators are malfunctioning all the time," said Andrew Gross, a resident of the building.
Residents of the Taylor Wythe Houses say there are constant problems with the elevators in the building, which is run by the New York City Housing Authority.
"We really got stuck a lot of times.T his is not the first time, not the second time," said Gelb.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Housing Authority offered its condolences for the Neuman family's loss and said that the circumstances of this tragedy are under investigation by several different agencies.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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