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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

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Man jumps to death from Costa Mesa City Hall roof

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Man jumps to death from Costa Mesa City Hall roof
Man jumps to death from Costa Mesa City Hall roof

A Costa Mesa maintenance worker who was due to be laid off jumped to his death from the roof of Costa Mesa City Hall Thursday afternoon.

Costa Mesa Police say the 29-year-old man had worked for the city for the last four-and-a-half years. A police spokesman says he was due to be laid off, but hadn’t received official notice yet when he went up to the roof of the five-story city hall and jumped.

The Costa Mesa City Council voted earlier this month to lay off about half of its workers to try to cover a projected $15 million deficit for the next fiscal year. More than 200 workers were to receive layoff notices, including the man who died.

A police spokesman calls the man’s death a “tragic event” and says city employees are trying to console each other.

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