A “depressed” cartoonist fell to his death from a 15th-floor co-op in Chelsea on Tuesday, despite his girlfriend’s frantic grabs and attempts to save his life, police and witnesses said.
Police and witnesses said the jumper, of 300 W. 23rd St., was identified as John Medwick, a 62-year-old artist who also works a day job at WebMD.
A police source told the Post that Medwick’s 45-year-old girlfriend saw him at the window and tried to stop him, but “he slipped away.”
Around 5:45 a.m., police responded to a 911 call at the renovated pre-war building.
“When I saw the coroner being pulled out and the body bags and ambulances being brought in, I knew something had happened,” said one person in the building.
“His apartment is in the back of the building. They say he jumped out of the apartment window.”
Mr Medwick, who had lived in the building for more than 10 years and was a co-op board member, was described by other residents as a “very nice person” and “outgoing”.
Prices for one-bedroom apartments in the building range from $540,000 to $1.45 million.
Medwick’s Instagram account posted a stunning photo of the sun setting over Manhattan, apparently taken from a high-rise apartment.
A source said he was living with his girlfriend, who was visibly shaken when she was taken to the hospital after Medwick’s death.
“I saw my girlfriend. She seemed distraught. She kept saying her leg hurt…I don’t know if she was nervous or not. EMS took her away,” the source said. added.
His brother was also in the building Tuesday and spoke with detectives, officials said.
Medwick had been living with his girlfriend since just before the coronavirus pandemic and had a brother who came to visit, another co-op official told the Post.
“He was a cartoonist. He drew pictures for me. It was very nice,” they added.
Medwick primarily worked from home, and customers who commissioned his work sometimes visited the building to pick up their pieces, the resident said.
“I’m glad I didn’t come forward. I didn’t want to see him like that,” they said.
“It would have been traumatic. It’s not a happy scene.”
Police said they do not believe there is anything suspicious about the fall.
A person at the building said an ambulance took Medwick to the hospital and brought him home Sunday.
Police said he was “depressed” before the apparent plunge.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit the following link: SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
