Teen Climbs On Top Of Bridge, Slips And Plunges To His Death

A 17-year-old boy fell to his death after climbing a popular bridge in Los Angeles. Police say the boy was performing a social media stunt but his father has denied the claim.

Police said the teenager climbed on top of one of the arches of the 6th Street Viaduct as part of a social media stunt.

The teenager, whose identity was not released by authorities, was found dead last Saturday on the eastern side of the span, AP News reported.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said the boy lost his footing "when climbing upon one of the arches, in order to post, apparently, a social media broadcast."

The teenager was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead there, officers said Tuesday.

The $588-million span that runs 3,500 feet was opened last July. In less than a year, the bridge turned into a city landmark but also became a stage for dangerous stunts and even gunplay.

A man filming a music video without authorization on the pedestrian ramp of the bridge was shot to death in January.

"Tragically we see that location, while it has spawned a great deal of pride in Los Angeles, it has also unfortunately served as a backdrop now for tragedies such as this. Our added patrols will continue at that location ... to counter such reckless actions," Moore said at a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday.

The teenager's father, Paul Luna, denied police claim that his son was performing a social media stunt.

"Since that bridge has opened, people are riding bikes over that thing. I've seen people roller skating over that thing, walking over it, sleeping on top of it. So, it made it look like it was pretty possible," he told NBC LA.

The LAPD refused to comment on the father's claims, saying they have no more details to add.

"Obviously, he doesn't know what he's talking about, so that's why he doesn't have no comment," Luna said.