Teen Daredevil Promises To Retire From Climbing Skyscrapers After Latest Arrest

MURRAY HILL, NY — The teen daredevil who's made a name for himself scaling Manhattan skyscrapers says he's retiring, days after being arrested while climbing a 51-story building in Murray Hill, police said.

Instagram celebrity Justin Casquejo was cuffed Thursday night while climbing the skyscraper, police said. A 911 caller told police that Casquejo "did several jumping jacks, a handstand, and then sat on the edge of the roof," according to the criminal complaint filed against the teen.

Casquejo is facing multiple criminal trespassing charges stemming from Thursday's arrest.

In a post on Instagram, the 19-year-old said he attempted to kill himself.

"Tried to kill myself in jail yesterday," he wrote in the post. "I was lucky enough to have someone help save me from myself."

Casquejo's attorney did not respond to an email from Patch seeking additional information, but told the New York Daily News: "What, if anything, my client did to harm himself is only a piece of this important question.

"Those in the criminal system must acknowledge the role mental health plays in not merely the actions of the accused, but the appropriate response to protect the very people they took an oath to serve."

Jail records show that Casquejo spent two nights in jail before he was released on Saturday after posting bail, which was set at $10,000.

In the same post, Casquejo said he would refrain from "rooftopping."

"I'm going to continue to work my ass off to inspire," he wrote. "Unfortunately that can't embody itself in rooftopping much anymore, but I'll work just the same."

The New Jersey native has become famous for scaling skyscrapers and monuments throughout the New York City area and posting videos and photographs of the dizzying views. He was previously arrested in November after a number of public stunts and is still facing criminal trespassing charges in that case.

Lead image via JN/YouTube.