Police: Man Dies After Falling From 3rd Floor At Palisades Center Mall

WEST NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man plunged to his death from the third floor inside the Palisades Center mall on Thursday morning, police said.

The 54-year-old man fell at the far west end of the shopping center near the Best Buy as people watched in horror, CBS2's Lou Young reported.

The man was at the third-floor escalator around 10:20 a.m. when he went over the waist-high railing and fell about 30 feet to his death, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

Police are investigating the fatal fall.

"At this point, we feel that there was a tragic accident," Clarkstown Police Officer Pete Walker said. "Somehow he went over the edge of the barrier or the railing, and we're not sure exactly how that happened."

The victim was mentally disabled, authorities said. He was with three others, including an aide from a group home, police told Young.

Police are withholding the victim's name until his family has been notified. The Haverstraw group home where the man lived is run by The New York Foundling, which says it's dedicated to mainstreaming the developmentally disabled. The trip to the mall was part of the group's regular daily outing.

The New York Foundling released a statement saying it is "deeply saddened" by the man's death and extends its "condolences to his family and loved ones."

"The safety of the individuals in our care is paramount, and we are doing everything we can to help determine what led to this terrible accident," said Beth Stellato, spokeswoman for the Manhattan-based company. "Grief counselors are being made available to our staff and clients to provide support during this difficult time."

There was a giant blue tarp set up around the man's body early Thursday afternoon, and the escalator near where the fall occurred was cordoned off with police tape, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, cell phone footage shows that the escalator railings appear to be about 3-ft high, something that has some shoppers concerned.

"They are not that good. You know, it's pretty dangerous there," Joe Cohen said.

The mall remained open, but security was keeping shoppers away from the area of the incident.

The shopping center has been the scene of other falls, but they have usually been suicides, Young reported.

For many, Thursday's deadly accident was unsettling.

"I just saw the body on the floor," said Daniel, who works at a cellphone stand on the fourth floor. "It's sad that it happened."

"I kind of got scared myself to witness that," Charles Duffaro, of West Nyack, said.

"I hate to be the guy's family," said shopper Danny Silva. "It's like any regular day. You just come and shop, and something happens."

The mall has been the site of other falls, but they were suicides.

On Thursday night, CBS2 had reached out to the mall for a comment, but had yet to receive a response.

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