Watch CBS News

Police: Man May Have Thrown Son From Roof Before Jumping

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man and his 3-year-old son died Sunday after plummeting from a building near Lincoln Center.

Police on Sunday night were still investigating exactly what happened. But as 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported, sources said the father -- identified as Dmitriy Kanarikov, 35, may have tossed the boy -- Kirill Kanarikov, 3 -- off the balcony and then jumped to his own death.

As WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported, a 911 call was made about noon Sunday, for what was initially reported as a jumper from the 52-story South Park Tower rental apartment building at 124 W. 60th St.

Man, Child Plummet From 60th Street Building

Some tenants were traumatized by what they saw, CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported.

"I'm horrified. I'm so horrified," said tenant Chris Prengman. "I've never seen anything."

"My sister saw in our apartment the man fell by," a man added.

The father's body was found on the roof of John Jay College nearby on 59th Street, while his son was discovered clinging to life on a neighboring rooftop.

Man, Child Plummet From 60th Street Building

As 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported, it was obvious that Dmitriy Kanarikov was dead when police arrived. But since Kirill showed signs of life, and was rushed just across the street to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital.

"Measures were taken to try to save the boy immediately. Being so close to where it happened. However, he died in the emergency room," said hospital spokesman Donald Maxton.

A witness said it did not seem like there was any hope for the boy.

"They're pumping his chest and doing work on him, and nothing -- you could tell that he was already slipping away," said witness Luis Ortiz.

Residents of the South Park apartment building told Kosola and Baumgarten they were horrified – even more so given that the incident happened so close to Christmas.

"I've lived here seven years," one resident of the tower told Kosola. "I've never heard anything at all like that."

Another resident, Joydep, said there are many families with small children in the building.

"It is a fair number of kids; fair number of dogs; very good building," Joydep said. "We love it here."

Meanwhile, Kanarikov's own neighbors said he lived alone in a home in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, but his estranged wife and son were occasionally seen visiting.

The couple was going through a divorce, and it was believed that the conflict may have led to the tragedy. Police told 1010 WINS Dmitriy Kanarikov was embroiled in a custody battle with the boy's mother, and was despondent over having to return him.

"We've seen the boy once before," said neighbor Felix Glazer. "It kind of breaks your heart. It's a very sad situation."

It was not clear Sunday night why Karanikov ended up at the West Side apartment building.

Ironically, his most recent Facebook posting read, "I want to be the best dad and husband. Nothing is more important to me right now."

In March, a woman clutching her baby son in her arms plunged eight stories out of a Harlem apartment window to her death, but the 10-month-old survived. Authorities found a suicide note in her home.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.