Pictured: LaShawna Threatt (left) and Ciara Williams(right)
A young model plunged to her death at her birthday party and her friend was critically injured after the two fell from an Atlanta hotel window in a horrific accident early Saturday, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Witnesses told police LaShawna Threatt was celebrating her 30th birthday at the swanky W Hotel in midtown Atlanta when she and her friend, Ciara Williams, began to “play fight” around 3:15 a.m.
The women were horsing around when they crashed through the thick hotel window and plunged 10 stories.
“It appears that there was no malicious act, no foul play, they were just wrestling with each other, they hit the window, the window broke, and they fell out,” said Atlanta Police Lt. Paul Guerrucci.
As the women fell, they hit another structure — an area that had a slanted sunroof, where Threatt died.
Williams rolled off the ledge and fell the remaining 20 feet unto the patio, police said. She was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
Threatt was a model, who also did party promotions for alcoholic beverage companies, and Williams is a dancer.
“She is a background dancer. Very big in urban dancing,” said Passionate Chonvill, owner of a marketing company. “She is in love with dancing.”
Threatt and about 20 friends met at an Atlantic Station restaurant for her birthday celebration dinner. Following the dinner, most of the group went to the hotel for rooftop after party, said Castillo.
“It was her 30th birthday and it was wonderful and fabulous, just like she was,” said 24-year-old Jomarys Castillo, who knew Threatt though modeling circles.
Castillo did not join the group for the after party.
“The last thing we talked about was her wanting to come to my baby’s first birthday party on Aug. 11,” said Castillo through tears. “Her idol was Marilyn Monroe, so it is kind of ironic that she would die so young.”
“LaShawna is a mess, a silly goofball. She likes to playfight and tickle you. They had just gotten in the hotel and were having a good time,” Chonvill said. “My friends who were there, said it was so random. They literally just fell out the window. They are two small girls and I am trying to figure out how the hell, two small girls could break a window like that.”
In a statement issued Saturday morning hotel manager Michael O’Donohue, said further information about the accident and investigation would have to come from police.
“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,” O’Donohue said. “There is a police investigation underway and all information must come from the authorities.”
Police are investigating the fall as an accident, but Campos said that the homicide unit has been requested to assist with the death investigation.
