LaShawna Threatt, an aspiring model, celebrating her 30th birthday at a swank Midtown hotel, plunged to her death early Saturday morning at a party in her honor.
A friend, whom police say was "play fighting" with Threatt, is clinging to life at Grady Memorial Hospital after both of them crashed through a thick window and fell 10 stories out of the W Atlanta -- Midtown.
Atlanta Police Department spokesman Carlos Campos said witnesses at the 14th Street hotel told officers that Threatt and the other woman crashed through the window at around 3:15 a.m.
As the women fell, they hit another structure -- an area that had a slanted sunroof. Threatt remained there.
The other woman -- identified by friends as Ciara Williams -- rolled off the ledge and fell the remaining 20 feet unto the patio, police said. She is at Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
"It appears that there was no malicious act, no foul play, they were just wrestling with each other, they hit the window, the window broke, and they fell out," said Atlanta Police Lt. Paul Guerrucci.
Threatt was a model, who also did party promotions for alcoholic beverage companies.
Williams is a dancer, said Passionate Chonvill, who owns a marketing company.
"She is a background dancer. Very big in urban dancing," Chonvill said. "She is in love with dancing."
Jomarys Castillo, 24, a friend of Threatt, said earlier Saturday, about 20 friends met at an Atlantic Station restaurant for a celebration dinner.
"It was her 30th birthday and it was wonderful and fabulous, just like she was," said Castillo, who knew Threatt though modeling circles.
Afterwards, most of the group went to the hotel, where Threatt had a rooftop party, said Castillo.
Castillo did not follow the group to the hotel.
"The last thing we talked about was her wanting to come to my baby's first birthday party on Aug. 11," said Castillo through tears. "Her idol was Marilyn Monroe, so it is kind of ironic that she would die so young."
Chonvill, who is another close friend of Threatt, said she missed the party as well, but confirmed from her friends who were there that the two were playing around.
"LaShawna is a mess, a silly goofball. She likes to playfight and tickle you. They had just gotten in the hotel and were having a good time," Chonvill said. "My friends who were there, said it was so random. They literally just fell out the window. They are two small girls and I am trying to figure out how the hell, two small girls could break a window like that."
In a statement issued Saturday morning hotel manager Michael O'Donohue, said further information about the accident and investigation would have to come from police.
"The incident at the W Atlanta early Saturday is very tragic and our thoughts and prayers are with the woman who was injured and the family and friends of the woman who died in the fall," O'Donohue said. "There is a police investigation underway and all information must come from the authorities."
Mike DeNiro, the owner of The DeNiro Group, said Threatt often did events for his production company.
"I have been knowing her for years. She was a mom and a good, free-spirited person," said DeNiro, 38. "She was one of the best persons you could ever know."
DeNiro said he was not at the birthday party, and like many of their other friends, have been slowly finding out about the accident, through the news, Twitter and Facebook.
"When I saw it, it crushed me," said DeNiro, adding that he bumped into Threatt and her daughter at the mall last week.
Police are investigating the fall as an accident, but Campos said that the homicide unit has been requested to assist with the death investigation.
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