Hipster Drummer Killed Because of Hoodie In Williamsburg

Man killed in fall down Brooklyn elevator shaft

November 8, 2009 By DANIEL EDWARD ROSEN. Special to Newsday

Quick Summary

A 34-year-old fell to his death after attempting to escape from a stalled elevator in a Brooklyn building.

A partygoer fell to his death early Sunday after attempting to escape from a stalled elevator in a Brooklyn building, authorities said.

The man, Gerard Fuchs, 34, was in an elevator at 338 Berry St. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn when it stalled sometime before 12:45 a.m., according to a New York City police report. Fuchs lived in Williamsburg, police said.

As Fuchs attempted to jump out of the elevator and onto an adjacent floor, the hood of his sweatshirt got caught on a piece of the elevator, causing him to fall five stories to the bottom of the elevator shaft, according to the police report.

Fuchs was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said another person managed to escape from the elevator.

Police do not suspect any criminality.

The elevator has an active violation from April, according to Department of Buildings records and had seven violations between 2001 and 2008, according to records. Those violations were eventually dismissed.

Police said an investigation is ongoing.

——

According to NY Post:

Drummer ‘s elevator leap ends in death

By JAMIE SCHRAM, PERRY CHIARAMONTE and ALEX GINSBERG

Last Updated: 9:16 PM, November 8, 2009

Posted: 4:29 PM, November 8, 2009

An indie-band drummer from Brooklyn fell to his death today after trying to leap from a freight elevator at a tony Williamsburg fund-raiser, police said.

Jerry Fuchs, 34, who drummed for West Coast dance-punk band !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk”) and the Georgia-based psychedelic instrumental ensemble Maserati, tumbled five stories shortly after 12:30 a.m. inside 338 Berry St., cops said.

“It’s a manual freight elevator, and it stopped somewhere above the fifth floor,” said Buildings Department spokesman Tony Sclafani.

Sources said Fuchs and his pal opened the elevator door and attempted to jump the 3 to 4 feet separating the elevator from the fifth floor.

The friend landed safely, but a piece of Fuchs’ clothing caught on the elevator, causing him to be yanked backward as he jumped, sending him swinging back into the crevice separating the elevator from the fifth floor.<p> </p><br> He fell and landed at the bottom of the shaft. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he died at 3:30 a.m

The drummer had been attending a formal-dress, invite-only benefit to raise money for women in India, sources said.

Fuchs is the second Maserati drummer to meet a tragic end. In 2005, then-drummer Mikel Gius was run down and killed as he rode his bike on a Sacramento street.

An indie-band drummer from Brooklyn fell to his death today after trying to leap from a freight elevator at a tony Williamsburg fund-raiser, police said.

Jerry Fuchs, 34, who drummed for West Coast dance-punk band !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk”) and the Georgia-based psychedelic instrumental ensemble Maserati, tumbled five stories shortly after 12:30 a.m. inside 338 Berry St., cops said.

“It’s a manual freight elevator, and it stopped somewhere above the fifth floor,” said Buildings Department spokesman Tony Sclafani.

Sources said Fuchs and his pal opened the elevator door and attempted to jump the 3 to 4 feet separating the elevator from the fifth floor.

Jerry Fuchs, 34, fell down this shaft after the elevator became stuck during a party at a Williamsburg loft early this morning.

The friend landed safely, but a piece of Fuchs’ clothing caught on the elevator, causing him to be yanked backward as he jumped, sending him swinging back into the crevice separating the elevator from the fifth floor….

The drummer had been attending a formal-dress, invite-only benefit to raise money for women in India, sources said.

Fuchs is the second Maserati drummer to meet a tragic end. In 2005, then-drummer Mikel Gius was run down and killed as he rode his bike on a Sacramento street.