[UPDATE BELOW] The man who police say jumped in front of the 6 train at 23rd Street yesterday was charged with possession of child pornography one day before his attempted suicide, according to court records obtained by the Daily News. The tabloid has identified the man as Shawn Klein, a hospital administrator who participated in one of the first same-sex weddings atop the Empire State Building—photographer Katie Sokoler covered his wedding celebration for Gothamist on Valentine's Day of this year.
Klein was released on bail yesterday, hours before police say he tried to kill himself by jumping in front of a northbound 6 train around 3:15 p.m. He was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he is reportedly clinging to life. "The doctors lost him once on the table and they brought him back,” his sister told the News. “That’s all I know. We’re just waiting."
Klein, a North Dakota native, works as an administrator at New York Presbyterian Hospital. On Monday he was charged with one count of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a felony. We'll update as more information on his condition becomes available.
Update 11:44 a.m.: According to the criminal complaint, Klein "knowingly had in his possession and control a performance which included sexual conduct by a child less than sixteen years of age." The Manhattan DA's office says "the defendant's laptop computer" contained the image and that Klein "admits to owning the laptop" and "admitted to downloading and possessing more than 100 videos containing child pornography."
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
