A tragic incident occurred Tuesday night at The Exchange rooftop restaurant and bar in downtown Lancaster, where 32-year-old Santos Eduvijis Rivera from Akron died after jumping from the building. The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Rivera died from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, ruling the incident a suicide.
Witnesses reported that Rivera climbed a glass partition before crouching on the ledge for a brief moment before jumping around 8:49 p.m. Emergency services arrived shortly thereafter but were unable to save him. In the aftermath, the restaurant staff expressed their distress, and The Exchange decided to close its operations for two days, reopening on Friday.
In light of this tragic event, Lancaster city police have encouraged anyone who witnessed the incident to seek emotional support from mental health services. They highlighted the importance of mental health, especially following such distressing events. The police social workers can be contacted for assistance.
The community is reminded that support is available for anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide or crisis. Various resources, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, provide help 24/7 and can be accessed confidentially.
This incident underscores the critical importance of mental health awareness and the need for supportive resources in the community. It’s a stark reminder of the struggles some individuals face and the urgency with which mental health services should be sought and provided.