76-year-old woman and an 18-year-old student jumped to their deaths just hours apart

Two Manhattan residents took their lives on the same day, less than five hours apart. The two cases are not connected.

On March 11, 2018, shortly after 8 am, a 76-year-old woman jumped from the 10th floor of a building in the Peter Cooper Village development.

As reported by NY Daily News, she died at the scene. Her name and identity have not been made known to the public. Sadly, she wasn't the only victim that day.

Approximately five hours later, authorities received a call from the friend of an 18-year-old student who had ingested an unknown substance.

Source: Shutterstock

Source: Shutterstock

The call was placed from the Stuyvesant Building less than half a mile from Peter Cooper Village. The friend, who has not been named either, said the freshman wanted to kill himself.

Officers rushed to the apartment, but they were too late. They arrived at the building on 14th Street near First Avenue at approximately 12:40.

The student had already taken his life. His name and identity hasn't been released, nor the chemical substance he ingested to commit suicide.

A suicide note was found at the scene, and the authorities confirmed that both cases would be investigated. The medical examiner hasn't released a report

According to DNA Info, suicide rates have been on the rise in New York City. 565 suicide deaths were reported by the Health Department in 2014.

The number increased from 448 deaths in 2000. The 2014 statistics works out to 5.5 deaths per 100,000 New Yorkers.

'This concerning increase in the suicide rate in New York City tells us that we’re not reaching New Yorkers early enough when they need support.'

Dr Mary Bassett, DNA Info, September 14, 2016.

While the suicide rates amongst men have been decreasing, the study found that the rates amongst women increased.