UPDATE: Police ID Victim In Penn's Landing High-Rise Death
By Jim Melwert, Ileana Diaz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are investigating the death of a woman who fell from an upper floor balcony of a Penn's Landing high-rise.
Philadelphia Police have identified the victim as 30-year-old Ngoc Tran Vo, from Northeast Philadelphia.
It happened early Friday morning at the Residences at Dockside at the 700-block of South Columbus Boulevard, the high-end building on the Delaware River near the foot of South Street that's shaped like a cruise ship.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small says the woman fell from a 12th floor balcony on the south side of the building, landing on a fourth-floor balcony. The 911 call came in around 4:30 this morning.
Small says the 30-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim did not live at the building, but was visiting a male friend. Small says the man she was with at the time is talking to police as they try to figure out what happened.
"So far he has been cooperating with the investigation," said Capt. Larry Nodiff, of Philadelphia Police.
Detectives towed cars from the property that may contain more evidence. They tell us the woman that fell was visiting a man she had met earlier that night.
Detectives tell Eyewitness News the two met at Club Risqué where she worked as an entertainer. Police say she came over to his apartment and was on the balcony when she dropped her cell phone and it landed on a patio on the fourth floor. Security said they would retrieve it in the morning. Police say she may have been leaning over the rail.
She fell at 4:20 a.m. Friday morning.
"At this point we are are investigating all aspects, so far there doesn't seem to be anything other than indications of an unfortunate accident," said Nodiff.
Detectives say the railing is sturdy and there does not seem to be a structural issue. Detectives are continuing to interview the man who was there and are awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports.
As for the community, neighbors are shaken, but say this is a rare case.
Margie McLean, condominium manager for The Residences at Dockside, released the following statement:
"This morning at about 4:30 am a tragedy occurred at The Residences at Dockside, when a visitor to our property fell to her death from a private balcony on the 12th floor. The police are investigating the incident. We have no further information at this time. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim. The police will provide additional information as details emerge."
The investigation is ongoing.
