Nobody deserves to be abandoned and left to die during their worst and most traumatic moment of their life.

On February 16th, multiple teenagers climbed the Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Multiple teenagers from Long Island and the Bronx were with 16 year old Frankie, who fell 50 feet down one of the many shafts inside the bridge. As a result, Frankie was critically injured. 

 Instead of immediately calling for help, Frankie’s “friends” and others proceeded to take videos of Frankie screaming their names in agony and sending it to people online. Frankie’s “friends” then removed Frankie’s cell phone from him in order to prevent Frankie from calling emergency services. His “friends” then fled the scene.

 Frankie’s “friends” then proceeded to go back to their homes, leaving Frankie inside the bridge shaft suffering and dying. Multiple hours later, an anonymous woman who saw the video contacted authorities which then resulted in Frankie’s rescue hours later. The FDNY had to search each shaftway of the Queensboro bridge until they found Frankie’s shoe and blood. None of the people involved in the accident including all of the “friends” involved were present at the rescue. Frankie was extracted from the Queensboro Bridge and transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition. 

This tragedy could have very well resulted in the death of 16 year old Frankie. Frankie’s “friends” could have prevented Frankie from sustaining additional life threatening injuries and hypothermia by immediately calling for emergency services. The reckless negligence, lack of compassion, empathy, concern for Frankie, and selfishness should not be taken lightly. 

Frankie’s “friends” involved this incident that left Frankie to die shall be investigated and charged accordingly. Instead, law enforcement is considering to charge Frankie instead. Those that left the victim for hours to rot shall be charged for their crimes. Such as:

• § 140.10 Criminal trespass in the third degree: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/140.10
• § 120.25 Reckless endangerment in the first degree: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/120.25
• § 145.14 Criminal tampering in the third degree: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/145.14
• § 155.25 Petit Larceny: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/155.25

Press Coverage:

• ABC7 New York: https://abc7ny.com/amp/post/teenager-rescued-queensboro-bridge-social-media-stunt-went-wrong/18613409/
• CBS News New York: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/queensboro-bridge-teen-falls-tiktok-challenge/
• The West Side Spirit: https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/queensboro-bridge-teen-stuck-in-shaft-hours-before-911-call-report-FM5583007
• Gothamist: https://gothamist.com/news/they-left-him-to-die-teen-who-fell-down-queensboro-bridge-shaft-has-brain-injuries-family-says
• PIX11 News: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/li-teen-left-to-die-after-50-foot-fall-down-queensboro-bridge-shaft/

GoFundMe for Frankie and His Family: 

• https://gofund.me/46ab8c81a

GoFundMe Statement from Frankie’s Family:

No one deserves to be abandoned in their worst moment. Frankie suffered a life-threatening fall in New York City that left him critically injured. After he fell, the people he was with recorded him as he screamed for help. Instead of helping him, they left him there. They even took his phone and disposed of it, leaving him with no way to call for help. Frankie lay alone for over four hours, bleeding and exposed to the cold. By the time help arrived, he had lost a severe amount of blood and was hypothermic.

Doctors have said he is expected to live and walk again. His survival is nothing short of a miracle. But he now faces a long road of surgeries, recovery, and rehabilitation. Medical bills are rising quickly as he begins the difficult process of rebuilding his life. This fundraiser will help cover emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, and the rehabilitation he will need to recover.

Frankie survived. Now he needs our support to heal. Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a real difference. Thank you for standing with Frankie during this incredibly difficult time.

**This petition was edited due to the accused being juveniles.**