Justin Casquejo, Teen YouTube Daredevil Who Scaled NYC Skyscrapers, Turns Himself In

By Eric Kiefer

NEW YORK, NY — The teenage YouTube star who has been risking his life dangling from New York City skyscrapers has turned himself into police custody, a report says.

Weehawken, New Jersey, resident Justin Casquejo — who gained national notoriety when he crept past security and climbed One World Trade Center two years ago — turned himself into police Friday afternoon after authorities contacted him about his latest alleged series of stunts, according to widespread reports.

The 18-year-old Casquejo may now be facing charges for stunts such as allegedly climbing an unnamed 50-story building in New York City, then pausing on the roof to take a series of dizzying photos and videos amid 50 mph winds.

According to his YouTube account, Casquejo has also filmed recent stunts “82 stories above Manhattan’s skyline,” “hanging 100 feet above Central Park,” “climbing an abandoned cathedral” and “climbing a luxury skyscraper in New York City.”

Local emergency responders have been vocal critics of Casquejo’s antics. After his recent alleged stunts, NYCFireWire posted the following message:

“FDNY firefighters have to be on their toes and ready to handle whatever is thrown their way. Aside from buildings, we also have all walks of life, including ones who feel important enough to evade security at a Central Park South High Rise being built… Unfortunately, those that must respond in the event he should become trapped or injured on one of these journeys, don’t see the thrill the way he does. This puts responders in a position they are trained for, but never wish to have to execute. Should the thrill seekers selfish acts fail, it will tie up highly trained technical rescue resources and put members at risk of their own.”

Here we see Casquejo dangling from the scaffolding at the soon-to-be luxury living tower at 220 Central Park South:

And here he is in Coney Island, hanging from the old, defunct Parachute Jump carnival ride:

After authorities hit him with a misdemeanor charge for trespassing at the World Trade Center in 2014, Casquejo received 30 days community service, was ordered to undergo counseling and had to write a 1,200-word essay on the risks of the stunt.

Police charged the teen with defiant trespassing and resisting arrest after he allegedly climbed to the top of a historic, 175-foot brick water tower in Weehawken only two weeks later, the NY Post reported.

Lead image via JN/YouTube

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