An 11-year-old from the Far South Side of Chicago was playing cops and robbers with friends when the game went awry. The children were jumping fences a few blocks from home when Nathan Dombrowski was impaled through the chest on an iron fence.
Police were called to the scene just before 10pm and firefighters cut through the metal spike to release the boy but Nathan died at the scene. Nathan was pronounced dead at 12.30 am.
Detectives are investigating the death and an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Witnesses say the children were playing cops and robbers a few blocks from Morgan's Park when the game turned deadly.
I dunno where you live but over here there's no problem at all in playing untill late. I used to play with my mates untill midnight when I was a kid (during vacation time obviously) and we never had any problems whatsoever.
But much more likely to happen now than when I was young. My child is almost 15 and she would not be allowed out past nine, she can bring her mates home no problem, even she knows better now and not from my ruling but because of a stabbing nearby.
Yep! Super Fence Jump\Impalement 3 is certainly too realistic and violent, look at how that child re-enacted the game and died, somebody call Jack Thompson.
Whoever submitted the comments about "lazy parenting" has NO IDEA what he/she is talking about. I live a few blocks from Nathan's family, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that they are wonderful parents. In this neighborhood, which is predominantly middle/upper-middle class and full of policemen and firemen families, allowing your kids to play on a late summer's night is not a crime or a sign of "laziness". We have a beautiful neighborhood full of great kids. The children were enjoying themselves on a beautiful summer evening. What happened was a terrible accident; not a reflection of poor parenting. Stop and think before you are so judgmental of grieving parents.
you say your neighborhood is made up of police/fireman families... surely one of the adults of these families would have recognised the dangers of letting children "jump" over fences that have iron spikes on top...
also this happened blocks from the boys home... do you routinely let your children climb on fencing that does not belong to you? surely climbing over a fence that does not belong to you is something you should teach your kids not to do... not only that but wouldnt it cause damage to the fence over a long period of time hence damaging someone elses property... and now the child has died who are you going to sue? the owner of the fence when the child should not have been there in the first place...
I dont think its clear how much the parents were aware of what the children were doing but its obvious they were not supervised since no one said "oi you little blighters get off that fence right now" which i would most certainly have done if it was my child or even someone elses... call me a spoilsport if you will...
yes its a tragedy... and kids will be kids... but now is the time to sit the rest of them down and tell them why you dont make up those rules about "climbing fences etc" for no reason at all...
I'm not sure where you live, but around here kids are allowed to play, especially on a summer night. The poor guy made a bad choice, and it was a horrible accident. It does NOBODY ANY GOOD to point fingers and blame at ANYONE. Tragic accidents happen everyday. He was only 2 city blocks from home, which is the distance from my house to the nearest playground. It's really not that far from home. Children have been known to hop the fence that surrounds the playground. If one of those kids were to get impaled would you be blaming their parents also? Children play and accidents happen...
BTW--the fence didn't have an "iron spike" on it. He climbed over a 6 foot chain link fence and there was a 4 ft. fence post from an old fence behind the fence and he slipped and fell on it.
Also, the entire neighborhood is filled with families and there are always kids running around playing. No one is really concerned about their property getting ruined by the kids. This is a very close knit community that embraces the laughter and playfulness of its children. We're not bitter "old fogies" who get angry about kids running around playing. Again...just a tragic accident.
..."Children have been known to hop the fence that surrounds the playground. If one of those kids were to get impaled would you be blaming their parents also?...
actually yes i would people put fences up for a reason and its not as a ladder to enable a shortcut
JulesLady, how many children do you have? Are you honestly able to control each and every move that your kids make??? Are you trying to tell me that if you have an 11 year old boy you find it necessary to be with him at all times to "supervise" his every move, even while he is playing? If you find this ridiculous (which I hope you do), realize that children do not necessarily care why a fence is there. They don't think like adults because they are kids. Many kids hop the fence at the playground by my house because it is a very short fence and it is a very long walk around to get to the gate. (It's there to make sure the little ones don't run into the street) Do I think they should hop it? Absolutely not. But these are KIDS we're talking about. Parents do not need to hover over their 11/12 year old children 24/7 and at times those kids might do something stupid when mom isn't there. But hell, Nathan could have hopped over his own fence to fetch a ball from his neighbor's yard right in front of a parent yelling, "No, stop!" and it still could have happened.
Just admit that it was a tragic accident and move on. Stop trying to place blame on someone.
I have jumped Chicago fences all of my life(still do to this day), they are not put up to keep people out, heck I could hurdle over most of them by age 12. They are there for 3 basic reasons, dividing property lines, keeping small children in their own yard, and, to keep the pets in the yard. Last time I broke 2 fingers while jumping a fence, I didn't get yelled at for jumping the fence, I got yelled at for not letting go soon enough and causing a trip to hospital for a splint, pain killers, and a few Dum-Dum's. I dont get all of these strange people, maybe its a south side thing, but we actually talk to, have b-b-q-'s with, and otherwise know and enjoy our neighbors. We don't build build fences to hide away in out reclusive little holes thinking of which movie or video game to use as the basis of our next lawsuit against our neighbors for not being exactly like us or thinking the same way we do. People like that scare me more then armed gang bangers.
And also if your not a parent, don't comment on parenting please unless you are talking about your own parents, because until you are a parent yourself, you have no flippin idea what you are talking about on the subject. Even better, those that fall into that category here in this thread, don't have any children, its people like you that turn out to be the parents of Columbine and other whacked out tragedies.
/start sarcasm
@undead This violent game needs to be outlawed before more innocent children die! Congress should act NOW! Carefull, we have to add Monkey in the Middle (breeds armed robbers), Softball (cant be teaching the kids how to throw grenades), Paint ball (serial sniper in training), oh the list goes on, but if your gonna do one, may as well do em all while your at it.
I am also from the area where Nathan was tragically killed. I did not know him personally, or his family, but as a mother, I ache for this family. I don't usually bother with people who are negative and critical, but these awful comments about "lazy parenting" and how could parents let their children run wild, really pushed me to respond. Not only do I live in this area, I grew up here. There is no place like it. As some have commented already, it's a wonderful place to live and raise a family. There are few places today that feel so safe and welcoming. Anyway, I want to say HOW DARE anyone even criticize or make negative comments about what happened. This was a FREAK accident and could have happened anywhere at anytime. Those of you commenting about someone else's tragedy in this negative fashion better reevaluate your own value of life. This family needs nothing but support and compassion! Shame on all of you who posted nasty comments!
Okay, I want to clear up that this neighborhood, that I and Nate used to live in is like.. all family. Everyone is friends with their neighbors. Your block is your family, and it's a place where you can walk in the house next door, kick off your shoes and call it home. And for those of you who are looking and demographics, it's pretty much white over here. It's a good neighborhood. And don't say there wasn't supervision. There were about 20 kids playing a game through the whole block of family's yards, hoping fences, rolling under fences, hiding under slides, porches, ect. There were parents sitting on one of the neighbors porches talking. Nate and one of his friends Dan were the robbers when it happened, and they were hopping a fence to escape the cops. The real cops called to the scene were in tears. Please don't take this situation lightly. This broke the hearts of the 1000 some people in this neighborhood that all knew, loved, went to school with, or were related to Nate.
He was a great kid, and comes from a religious family. Is dad coached baseball teams, and all that jazz. Don't say poor parenting. Please understand the situation before you judge it.
Anybody who claims "wreaks of lazy parenting" or it's the parents fault you disgust me. You absolutely disgust me, for lack of a better word. All of you who judge the parents and the neighborhood obviously have not been lucky enough to have grown up in as tight knit neighborhood as we have. You have no idea the pain of family and friends or the situation. Sure you've read the 2 paragraphs written about it online but how does that in any way validate your snide comments. Who gives you the right to pass judgement on the Dombrowskis? I'm embarrassed for you that you even commented on this subject, one you hardly understand.
My name is Todd Phillips, and i knew Nathan Dombrowski. I was in his class the Year the Accident happened. I cant believe you selfish people would call the Dombrowski´s ´Lazy Parents´. That is the complete opposite of what they are. You dont know how bad it felt to find out that one of your friends who sat right next to you died. If I read one more bad comment about any of the Dombrowski´s i will be pissed off and I will Find you
