Boys fell 55 feet from roof of south Minneapolis apartment complex, believed accidental

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis police say they believe the fall from the roof of a south Minneapolis apartment building, which left one young boy dead, was an accident.

"There's no indication at this time these children's descent was caused by anything other than the children themselves," said Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder.

Elder says the two young brothers fell about 55 feet from the roof of Karmel Village in the 2800 block of Pleasant Avenue South Thursday afternoon. The young children landed on a patio near the Midtown Greenway.

Three workers nearby, who witnessed their falls, rushed to their aid and called for emergency help.

"These people should be considered heroes," said Elder. "These people witnessed something that was tragic and horrific. They acted to try to save these children."

Emergency crews took the two children to Hennepin County Medical Center, where one child died from his injuries. The Medical Examiner identified the deceased boy as 2-year-old Abdiquni Abdi, of Minneapolis. 

The other boy received non-life threatening injuries and is expected to survive.

Elder says the children were in the care of a capable adult. Drugs and alcohol are not considered to be factors in the case. As part of standard protocol, Child Protective Services will be speaking the adult.