2-year-old who fell to his death at Lakers game had crawled out of parents' sight

The parents of a 2-year-old who died after plunging 50 feet from a Staples Center luxury suite had lost sight of their son and were searching for him when they learned he had fallen, said sources familiar with the investigation.

The boy, Lucas Anthony Tang, had been crawling around the suite during the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors, sources said. At some point, his parents noticed he was missing and began to look for him.

They did not know then that their son, who would have turned 3 in January, had fallen. Witnesses at the game told The Times that the boy was moving his arms, legs and head before paramedics took him out on a stretcher.

A spokesman for AEG, the company that manages Staples Center, said he had no comment at this time.

The death is being investigated by the LAPD's abused-child unit, a standard practice that officials said does not necessarily mean a crime has been committed.

RELATED:

Child dies after 50-foot fall at Lakers game

Child-abuse unit investigating boy's death in Staples Center fall

Boy hurt in fall from Staples Center luxury suite after Lakers game

-- Andrew Blankstein and Kate Linthicum

Photo: A security guard, top, looks down from where a young boy fell to where a second guard stands after the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on Sunday night. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Comments

[Wesley]

Anyone who believes that a 2 1/2 year old does not need to be watched vigilantly and at all times is absolutely clueless. "These things happen"?! Yes, they do when parents are careless or worse. They can happen despite extreme vigilance and when they do, THAT constitutes an "accident". Anything else is either: a) an intentional act b) willful and wanton conduct c) gross negligence or d) simple negligence. Choice b is virtually intentional (careless disregard for consequences of one’s behavior); c is a gross lack of due care and d is a lack of due care.

[apolitical]

Sorry I'm not at all compassionate. This forum is devoted to the elitists who own and have full access to Lakers suites and games while most average American fools pay the tariff to the promoters and owners.

Rich Republican business interests have been behind the importation of illegal aliens and cheap labor from day one. The ONLY US President to ever offer amnesty and pass amnesty was Reagan.

We have quite wealthy friends who live in AZ and they own restaurants etc and it was eyebrow raising how they reacted to my statement that I was thinking of becoming an Minuteman. It was - how could you do this that will hurt us?

I agree that Democrats would be happy to offer amnesty, but the fact is ONLY republicans did it and benefit.

[jason]

All of you that have ripped on the parents need to think first. Maybe they were careless, but maybe...just maybe they loved their child more than all the world as I love my two and five year olds. Maybe they are huge laker fans and wanted nothing more than to share that experience with their child...even if it was a two year old. Maybe the dad went to take a leak, and the mom thought dad was watching the child while she went to get something to eat. It could be hundreds of things. I can't imagine what they are going through...it makes me sick to think about. No parent is perfect, and neither are any of you. Grow up and show some remorse. Pathetic. Unless you know EXACTLY what happened, shut up.

[dee gee]

blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol. this is why i wont go to sporting events.... im so tired of people getting plastered out of their minds. this takes away from all the fun. but this, this, has to be the ultimate reason why people shouldn't get DRUNK at sporting events.

[bajadelmar]

How could they take their eyes off the kid knowing there's a ledge he could have potentially fallen off of? I imagine hundreds of kids have been in those boxes over the last 9 years and so there is a reason why this has only happened once. Lousy parenting.

[J]

Wow, so I guess the people that were blaming the parents before have their answer. They lost sight of the kid, and he fell before they could find him. Tragic, but nobody is totally vigilant 100% of the time. Sometimes kids slip away from their parents for a moment, and sometimes a moment is all it takes.

Oh and look, turns out the child-abuse unit being called IS standard practice, not indicative of guilt on the parents part.

It's not really their fault, but they're probably blaming themselves enough, without you self-righteous bunch of strangers adding to it. You don't know them, and you weren't in that suite. If you had been, half of y'all probably would have sat there watching this kid do it, because you're too scared to "interfere."

[Bay Area]

Shame on all of you who target these unfortunate parents, something can always be done differently, but berading this poor family is just so fundamentally wrong- these comments are the LAST thing they need to see. The experience is traumatic enough, we don't need to hear your negative thoughts

[Jerry from LA]

If a 2 year old falls into a pool and drowns, its the pools fault.
Bad pool!

[Andrew]

As a proud father of a 15 month baby girl, I have taken my daughter to 3 games this season, we sat in regular seats not suites, my Wife and I had her in our arms the ENTIRE GAME each time, I think that these parents made the mistake of leaving there 2 year old with the 11 year old daughter, who may have been holding the child too close to the rail. My daughter squirms when she wants down and I am a 260 pound 6'5" Athlete, and I have a hard time keeping her from limping her body and sliding out of my grasp, all parents experience this. I am not Blaming anyone but the Parents for this Tragic incident, but I can truly say the pain I feel for them is enough punishment, I laid next to my daughter tonight and cried before I wrote this, because if I Lost Her I would Not be able to breathe let alone Grieve. Let's all please help this Family to regain their bearings in life, almost like learning to walk again, please no more words of judgement on such a fragile accident/incident of LIFE, this family needs Love right now not hurtful opinions. God be with you all and Lucas be with God as an Angel looking down on us all, and helping his Mother Father and Sister find a way to breathe again and be able to Live on in His Name. Dear God I ask that you help this family to regroup and survive through this pain I ask these things in your Loving Son Christ Jesus Name and give you Thanks Amen.

[Derek Lawrence]

My thoughts go out to the parents...even though it may have been a good or bad idea to take a 2 year old to a game like this...the ending result is the same and the parents have to live with this decision. My heart goes out to them as I could not think how i would live without my kids... I know it is hard to keep an eye on your kids 24/7 but all we can do is our best. Please watch your children carefully so that we don't have tragic endings such as this.

[KT]

This is a shame that this happened to this little boy. I agree with the majority of you, the majority of parents are naive these days. They take their infants or toddlers to events such as this. If they can not get a babysitter then sorry part of being a parent is sacrifice. Wait until the child is older or get a babysitter. Iwork at a hospital and have met parents who have lost their children to pool accidents, or RSV and the one thing they say is they wish they never had that pool or left the room to answer the phone or took their newborn infant out. One night of fun vs a whole life experienced with the child. Sad, but this is the cost of being naive.

[GilB]

I'm sure these parents are already suffering a lot. And I'm not here to contribute to that. So my comment goes to ALL parents out there. I also have a 2-year old. My son is very easy to handle, very well behaved however he already suffered a cut on his lip from losing his balance while walking and hitting his face on a piece of furniture and he also suffered a major concussion and a small skull fracture from falling at daycare (which we removed him from the next day because we believe he was neglected there).

At home or at the park or ANYWHERE me and my wife make sure we have our eyes on him ALL THE TIME. He has been to the press box at the home Depot Center in LA while I was working but my work became secondary at times because my eyes were glued to him.

It's not easy and it takes away time to enjoy yourself but that's what parenting is about. Please keep your eyes on your kids. Accidents like this one can be and should be avoided.

[MA]

Attention Humanity! This is not heaven it is earth. In Heaven there is God, joy and perfection. On earth there is the affects of Original Sin (mankinds fall from Grace)Our punishment for having sinned (it was passed on to us all) is hunger, thirst, tiredness, anger,sickness, evil and yes heartache and a million other sufferings while we are here on this planet for a short life. Of course there is also joy. Remember on Christmas Day, God sent Jesus to save us. But not for this world but the next.
These parents will have to suffer with this loss for what is left of their lives. It was most likely an accident. Even if they weren't "watching" as they should they loved this child and are in horrible pain. Those who sit and judge them without having pity and sorrow for them show their own souls to be in a state very unlike that of Our Creator. A sign that you are close to our creator and savior is that you feel only compassion and sorrow for these people. The child is with God for he never reached the age of reason and so was without sin. All these angry thoughts, feelings and judgements show you to be in great need of "conversion " of heart. Stop judging and start praying......for yourselves.,

[Maritah Brewer]

So sad I would have atleast watched him closer knowing theres a possibility of my baby falling

[anon]

Sorry, but why in the world would you have a 2 year old out late at night, and of all places, an environment such as a sporting event??? I myself have a 2 year old and cannot fathom taking her to an event such as this at this age. She, like most normal toddlers will not sit still for more that 2 minutes!! I mean, I feel bad for their loss and cannot imagine the depth of pain they are feeling, but in a sense am angered by their poor judgment that cost this innocent human being his life. he didn't know any better and did not realize he was in danger, it is a parents job to protect and above all avoid situations like this that are not age appropriate! If they could afford to attend the game then surely they could afford to hire a babysitter. Selfish and neglectful if you ask me.

[Benny]

Wow! Why, How?
What was the child doing?