A man who climbed a radio tower on the campus of American University earlier this week died Friday morning after jumping from the structure, bringing a tense, multiday barricade standoff to an end. Authorities have now opened a death investigation.
Police said the man, who has not been publicly identified, appeared to be in the middle of a mental health crisis. The tower, which belongs to WAMU-FM and stands approximately 321 feet tall, became the center of emergency activity after the man was spotted on a platform about halfway up at around 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Over the course of more than two days, police crisis negotiators and emergency responders remained on-site, working around the clock in hopes of persuading him to come down safely. Witnesses observed the man pacing on the platform, wearing a red sweatshirt and carrying a backpack.
In response, university officials issued alerts on Tuesday evening, placing several buildings on the south side of campus under lockdown or evacuation orders.
Thursday morning, officials said the man indicated he was willing to descend, but he ultimately remained in place through the night. At approximately 5:45 a.m. on Friday, he jumped from the tower.
In a message to the university community, Vice President Bronte Burleigh-Jones expressed sorrow over the outcome, noting that emergency personnel made every effort over the course of three days to resolve the crisis without harm.
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Authorities “worked tirelessly over the past three days to safely conclude the situation, but unfortunately, the outcome was tragic,” Burleigh-Jones said.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the man had access to food, water, or shelter during the ordeal, and are withholding his identity pending further investigation.