A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday night (July 29) at the Lancaster Marriott Hotel in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when a man died after jumping from the rooftop restaurant and bar, The Exchange. The incident was reported at 8:49 p.m. by Lancaster County-Wide Communications, and the man had died by the time first responders arrived on the scene.
According to LancasterOnline, Jeff Hawkes, a former reporter for LNP | LancasterOnline, witnessed the event while dining at the restaurant. He reported seeing the man climb a glass partition lining the outer perimeter of the restaurant's outdoor seating area, crouch on the ledge for a few moments, and then jump. Hawkes described the scene as shocking, noting that it happened very quickly.
The restaurant was cleared after the incident, and staff appeared shaken. Police and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office were notified and responded to the scene.
Anyone in crisis or needing immediate help is encouraged to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling, texting, or chatting 988. The previous number, 800-273-8255, remains operational. Additional resources are available for specific groups, including veterans and the LGBTQ+ community.