A Makiki family is mourning the loss of their 10-year-old daughter who died Monday after falling from an apartment building's stairwell. Police are still trying to determine what floor she fell from and more importantly what caused her to fall. Emergency crews were called to the Crown Thurston apartment just after 7:30 Monday morning.
"We heard her scream, a woman's voice," said apartment resident Clarita Antonio. "When my great-grandson said what's that somebody fall down."
Residents say they don't know who screamed but moments later they found a young girl lying motionless in a grassy area.
"On the first floor where the victim was found its like a recreation center or recreation open area and she was found just a few feet from the stairs," said Maj. Clayton Kau of the Honolulu Police Department.
"It just happened so fast I didn't know what had happened," said Antonio. "We heard ambulance and the police cars."
The 10-year-old girl was taken to the hospital in critical condition. She was pronounced dead at 8:11. Relatives say the victim's parents were home at the time.
"We still trying to determine what cause the fall we haven't determined that yet," said Kau.
Police say its unclear what floor the girl fell from although they focused a portion of their investigation on the fourth floor where it was marked by yellow tape. The staircase has four-feet high railings.
"For us to hear that kind of incident, it's scary," said Antonio.
Residents say the victim's father is the building's manager and that she has a younger sibling. Her family requested their privacy.
"I'm sure they're very distraught at this point, she's a young girl, 10 years old and anytime somebody you lose a young child I'm sure the parents are hurting inside," said Kau.
"I feel sorry for the family," said Antonio.
Several people said the staircase of the 11-story building is seldom used by residents, mainly during emergencies.
