Overview
- An 18-year-old who was part of a group trespassing at the decommissioned Checkerboard grain elevator fell an estimated 20 stories on Monday and suffered life-threatening injuries.
- Firefighters used a ladder truck to reach the victim at the scene and the teen was taken to Hennepin Healthcare where doctors performed multiple surgeries and placed them on life support.
- Minneapolis police say reports of so-called 'urban exploring' have risen from about 80 last year to more than 100 so far this year, with 15 arrests in 2026 for trespassing and related charges.
- Officials warned that social media posts showing entry into abandoned structures both encourage copycat trespassing and provide evidence investigators can use to identify participants.
- The fall echoes prior fatal and severe incidents at city grain elevators and highlights recurring problems for owners and neighbors who repeatedly board up sites only to face new breaches and safety risks.