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Toddler Identified In Fatal Apartment Window Fall

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) –- The 11-month-old girl who fell nine stories to her death Tuesday night has been identified.

St. Paul Police say Ilhaan Hassan fell from a ninth floor bedroom window at an apartment unit on 1247 St. Anthony Ave. around 7:20 p.m.

Officials of the Skyline Tower in St. Paul say the unit was inspected and the screens were intact before the accident.

Deb Sakry Lande, a Skyline spokesperson, said as recently as July 14, the unit was inspected and no issues were found with the screens. The Skyline Tower is a large, low-income high rise apartment complex.

Authorities said it is unclear exactly what happened that led to Hassan's fall, but she had been playing in a bedroom with other kids at the time. St. Paul Police say the kids were playing on a bed that was pushed up against the window when the accident occurred.

They said there were several adults and children at the apartment at the time of the fall.

Anthony Parker, a witness of the incident, lives in the apartment complex on the 20th floor.

"I turned around because my daughter grabbed a cup off table, I didn't want her to spill it. As soon as I turned around I heard a loud smack," said Paker. "When I turned back around, the kids were yelling and pointing at the ground. I got up and walked over slowly because I didn't know what they were talking about at first. Then, I saw the baby on ground and ran over. I didn't know what else to do so I called 911 and went to get security."

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports

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Hassan was immediately taken to Regions Hospital, where she later died. Witnesses at the scene say she was at the building, visiting family.

Lande said Skyline's primary concern is the safety of its residents.

"This accident on Aug. 2 was tragic for residents and staff," she said in a statement. "Licensed social workers are available to all residents who need support through this tragedy."

Lande said the screens in each unit are replaced when brought to the management's attention.

"Staff reiterate continuously the importance of reporting damaged screens to maintenance immediately when they are detected," she said. "Every apartment home will be contacted again to ask residents to advise staff immediately if a screen needs repair or replacement."

Police say the investigation is ongoing and at this point, it appears to be a tragic accident. Charges are not expected.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports

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