Police rescue 13-year-old boy from suicide attempt in Newark, New Jersey

Two New Jersey police officers are being credited with saving a 13 year-old boy’s life after he threatened to jump from a building’s ledge on Monday Oct. 21.

Police said a call came in just before 5 p.m. for a young boy threatening to jump from a third-floor fire escape at Youth Consultation Services on Broadway in Newark. The teen locked himself in a common area and was out on the fire escape when police arrived.

When Newark Police Sgt. A. Barbosa and Officer J. Johnson arrived, they found the teen holding onto a chain-link fence with nothing underneath to prevent him from falling.

One officer, Sgt. A. Barbosa, distracted the 13-year-old with conversation while another, Officer S. Johnson, quickly grabbed the boy and pull him back onto the fire escape.

“Preservation of a life is always our goal, but it’s clear that these officers exercised exceptional compassion and the care needed to ensure that this frightening scenario had a positive ending,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement Wednesday.

Once down from the ledge, the teen was then taken to University Hospital for evaluation.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text TALK to 741-741 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.