Lashawna Threatt Dies In Fall From Window At Atlanta Hotel

Text by RAY HENRY, AP

ATLANTA -- A 30-year-old model died celebrating her birthday and another woman was seriously injured when they plunged from a 10th-story hotel window at a hotel early Saturday morning, investigators said.

Witnesses told police that 30-year-old Lashawna Threatt and second woman were "play wrestling" in a room at the W Midtown Hotel around 3:15 a.m. when they crashed into a window and fell four or five stories onto a slanted glass ceiling above a sunroom.

"They were play wrestling and the next thing you know, they went toward the window and through the window and out they went," said Lt. Paul Guerrucci, commander of the Atlanta Police Department's homicide unit.

Rescuers found Threatt dead on the sunroom roof. The second woman, whom police would not identify, tumbled off that same roof and fell onto an outdoor patio outside the hotel. She was taken to Grady Hospital with multiple broken bones and other injuries and listed in critical condition. Friends say Threatt was the best friend of the injured woman.

"According to the witnesses, there was no arguing during the hours leading up to this, either, so it's really a tragic accident," Guerrucci said.

None of the handful of people in the hotel room have been charged with any crimes. Guerrucci would not comment on whether alcohol could have played a role in the accident. Authorities were waiting on blood tests taken from the victim.

Threatt worked as a model who did liquor promotions and appeared in print ads. She started celebrating her birthday Friday by eating with friends at a restaurant, then went to the hotel room for an after party, said Jomarys Castillo, 24, a friend who attended the dinner but left before the hotel party. Threatt leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter.

"She was extremely charismatic - she could talk to anyone," Castillo said.

Hotel manager Michael O'Donohue referred all questions about the death back to police, citing the ongoing investigation. The hotel remained open Saturday.

"The incident at the W Atlanta early Saturday is very tragic and our thoughts and prayers are with the woman who was injured and the family and friends of the woman who died in the fall," he said in a statement.

WATCH:

Woman Dies after Fall from Hotel Room: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Comments

[commonsense79]

08:56 PM on 06/02/2011

This is really sad. My girlfriend worked with her and said that she was always the playful type. I still can't understand how both women could have enough force to fall out of a window?

[beachgirl61]

01:17 PM on 06/02/2011

There are probably more incidents of injuries and deaths from horseplay than most people find out about because they don't make the papers. I know this because I work in the private security field and saw such things quite a bit. That being said, condolences to the family.

[erikankie]

04:27 PM on 06/01/2011

I remember hanging with friends and watching this one Sex and the City episode where this burnt out socialite tripped out of a window. And i was horrified. Not even in an entertainment, dark humor way. And then i read this and it's a real life version. Ugh... This sucks. I couldn't even imagine.

[Jason Shields]

12:52 PM on 06/02/2011

The actress that played the socialite starred in 3rd Rock from the Sun. I just remembered the episode, not that I watched a lot of Sex and the City... I also happened upon L.A. Law once right before the moment that someone died by falling in an elevator shaft when the elevator doors opened and there was no elevator. That spooked me a bit.

[Bor Zoi]

03:50 PM on 06/01/2011

It will be interesting to find out how the accident occurred ...
... if the window shattered, then they will have to test the glass.
... if the whole pane fell out, that is an anchor / spandrel issue.

Either way, RIP.

[Largo Lagg]

03:37 PM on 06/01/2011

How about the people in the room below... first you hear wrestling, you call the front desk like a million times, and then outside of the balcony window, you hear "AAAaaaaaa......" and then finally you can get back to sleep.

[Just Sax]

02:52 PM on 06/01/2011

I'm still a little curious how they had enough force play fighting to go through the room window but not enough force falling to go through the sun room windows. I know the windows are probably different but still, just seems a little odd.

[gemini68]

04:41 PM on 05/31/2011

Really sad. Condolences to her family- especially her daughter.

[Kimberlee Sepulveda]

12:42 PM on 05/31/2011

I don't think this was a play fight that went wrong. there is a big gap in the story that is the truth. and if the other girl survies I don't belive she will tell the truth. I hope they don't let this go as a bad accident. They need to investigate the people at the party and the other young girl.

[Meeple Youuple]

10:06 AM on 06/02/2011

"I don't think this was a play fight that went wrong. there is a big gap in the story that is the truth. and if the other girl survies I don't belive she will tell the truth."

And you fill this gap with what? Your investigative acumen?
The evidence that you acquired by diligently going over the forensic evidence?

Why would they need to investigate anything when Kimberlee "CSI" Sepulveda can make it all up from her couch like a detective Sarah Palin?

[Stand Up for your Belief]

11:28 AM on 05/31/2011

So sad. She was gorgeous!

[kayren05]

10:44 AM on 05/30/2011

This is a horrible way to die! I couldn't even imagine; its like something out of a movie......

[India1148]

10:43 AM on 05/30/2011

It was a couple of people playing around, not realizing the windows weren't that secure and they fell through. It's an accident and tragic. Period.

[whyus]

01:35 AM on 05/30/2011

I'm so glad I was brought up in a one story house.

[Susan Shaffer]

03:30 AM on 05/30/2011

maybe they were too and didn't realise the danger

[B Kleitz]

10:03 PM on 05/29/2011

That was my first thought as well.
I've only stayed in one hotel that had that many floors and it was in Biloxi Mississippi. A couple of years later, that hotel was destroyed by Katrina.
I have a ridiculous fear of heights...we stayed on the fifth floor and I would not go ANYWHERE near the windows, which I am told had a fantastic view of the Gulf.
I prefer the feel of Terra Firma...

[texlib2112]

07:02 PM on 05/29/2011

How sad - RIP

[DARK STAR]

06:57 PM on 05/29/2011

Very sad, very unfortunate, it will be tough going for her daughter.