An aspiring tattoo artist was playing a “roller-coaster” game atop a Bronx housing-complex elevator early Monday when he was crushed to death, police sources said.
Tito “Beboo” Morales, 20, became wedged between the elevator and the shaft wall at around 4 a.m. between the 18th and 19th floors in the Adams Houses on Tinton Avenue in the South Bronx.
Sources said Morales was riding on top of the elevator as it went down the shaft — although his girlfriend claimed that he climbed on top only after it got stuck.
“My sister saw everything,” said Joanna Sanchez, 24, the victim’s girlfriend. “She said it was horrible. She saw his body dangling. When the elevator went up, he flew up and then he fell.”
Morales was pronounced dead at the scene. No criminality is suspected.
Sanchez said Morales was wearing slippers, and probably lost his footing.
She said her sister, who was on her way to the store with Sanchez, “tried to stop the elevator from going up and down because she didn’t want the elevator to drag him.”
“Before he left, he was like, ‘I love you baby,’ ” Sanchez said. “He was just telling me he really really loves me.”
Residents at the Adams Houses said elevators in the building have been plagued with problems.
“The elevators are crazy, they are not safe,” said Evangelita Presinal, a friend of Morales who also lives in the building.
“They always get stuck. I got stuck like three times.”
Davis Lamont, 24, lives on the 12th floor, and agrees that elevators in the building often get stuck.
“The doors wouldn’t open and the elevators would ride up,” he said. “I was just sorry that someone lost their life dealing with the elevator.”
A representative for the New York City Housing Authority referred all inquires to the NYPD.
The last time an elevator inspection was conducted at the building was in January 2013, according to the Buildings Department Web site.
Morales’ social-media sites are filled with pictures showcasing his tattoo talent.
“He was a humble guy,” said friend Joselyn Rentas, 24. “He was starting his life with his new girlfriend.”
“We all can’t believe it happened,” said Angel Manuel, 20.