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News, Santa Monica, Police Department
Coroner's Office Identifies Santa Monica Man Who Died After Walking Off Roof
Posted Nov. 27, 2013, 9:14 am
Brenton Garen / Editor-in-Chief
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s assistant chief Ed Winter has identified the man who walked off the roof of a medical centre in Santa Monica on Monday and fatally fell to the ground as 25-year-old Santa Monica resident Daniel William Schast.
Santa Monica police are still investigating the incident that occurred just after 1 pm Monday at the Medical Centre of Santa Monica at 2001 Santa Monica Boulevard.
SMPD Sgt. Jay Moroso said the man was seen inside the ground level pharmacy of the medical building at about 1 pm Monday.
“He appeared to be getting a prescription refilled in the pharmacy,” Moroso said. “He was then seen on the roof of the building, leaning over the edge and smoking a cigarette. Moments later, and as police were responding, he walked off of the ledge and fell to the ground.”
Moroso said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It is unknown why the man killed himself,” Moroso said.
The Medical Centre is 12 stories high. Moroso said the man walked of the roof on the south-east corner.
The man's sister, Sierra Schast, said her brother was not mentally ill but diagnosed with an extremely rare heart condition called CPVT combined with epilepsy.
"The medication he needed to take in order to live made him no longer want to," Schast said. "He had more on his plate than any human would ever be able to manage. I spoke with him 20 minutes before he jumped and I knew something was wrong but he has no history of this nor did I suspect it would be an option."
She said she was sorry that anyone had to witness his death.
"I'm sorrier though that he felt it was his only alternative," she said. "God bless my brother, may you never feel pain again."
Comments
Nov. 28, 2013, 12:49:53 pm
A. Gilmore said...
latest on Daniel whom we can't get off our minds....May he rest in peace.......
Nov. 29, 2013, 12:10:23 am
Sona said...
To the Schast family, My heart is broken into pieces. My thoughts are with you and your family. I work in this building and I was there that day and saw him. I am so sorry. I wish somehow someway someone knew and could have helped. I have kids myself and as a mom I know how it must feel. We will all pray for him. There is no words that can be said to make things better. Just pray for him. So sorry for your loss.
Nov. 29, 2013, 6:16:49 am
carol said...
I was leaving the hospital that day when I saw Daniel. I too cannot get him off my mind and wished there was something I could have done. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.
Nov. 30, 2013, 3:01:14 pm
Jennifer said...
So very sorry for your great loss. My heart is heavy from reading this info. So many people are burden
Nov. 29, 2013, 3:06:54 pm
Steve said...
I didn't know Daniel but I believe I found some of his work on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLLzduGKTM He was a very talented young artist by the looks of it. I wish his family and friends the best through this tragedy. I know it can't be easy for them at the moment. I lost my father from suicide in 2012. For a long time I blamed myself for not being more aware of his situation and for not 'saving' him. I also blamed others. I even blamed my father and was upset at him even though I know he wasn't in his right mind when he did it. But eventually those feelings went away and I accepted what happened, as tragic as it was, and decided to learn from it and go on with my life. I'm no longer mad at him, myself or others. If I start to feel down about it, I check myself and realize that my father would not want me to have any sad feelings about what happened, and to instead try to remember and cherish the good times we had together. Those will never die. Daniel may not be here physically anymore for his friends and family, but he will continue to live on in their hearts and minds for a very long time, if not forever.
Jan. 11, 2014, 9:23:20 pm
Sierra said...
I wanted to say thank you to everyone that posted their comments, especially Steve I respect and appreciate your courage to share your own experience. It is hard every day, and I too myself am blaming blaming and blaming. I mostly blame myself, thank you for sharing that you experienced it in a similar way and I hope to one day gain peace around this. Thank you again, to everyone for their thoughtfulness and care.