Alexander “Ty” Flynn of Dunwoody died after falling from the roof of an Atlanta historic building and now the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the accident. He was 19.
On Friday, May 13, Flynn and two friends entered the Pullman Train Yard to skateboard and explore the property, according to the GBI. The property is closed to the public and numerous reports of trespassing on the state-owned site have been reported over the years, according to the GBI.
“Public awareness of the dangers associated with trespassing in this area is critical,” states a May 18 GBI press release about the investigation.
According to the GBI, Flynn found a ladder on one side of a building and climbed it to the roof. When he tried walking across the roof, he apparently stepped on a fiberglass skylight and fell through the roof, dropping 40 feet to the concrete floor. He died from his injuries.
The GBI was requested to investigate the death on May 13 by the Department of Public Safety Capitol Police.
Flynn was a 2015 graduate of Dunwoody High School and had just completed his freshman year at Georgia College in Milledgeville where he was studying business and pre-law.
He is survived by his parents, Marcella (Marnie) Ellis Fulton and David (Dave) Michael Flynn; his brother, Harrison Flynn, his stepfather, Christopher Fulton; and his grandparents, Judith and Tinsley Ellis of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga. His family also includes his late paternal grandparents, Martha and Alexander Flynn of Huntsville, Ala.; his aunts and uncles, Tinsley Ellis, Jr. and Kelley, David Ellis and Lynn Kay, Ralph W. Ellis, Audrey Thomas, Mary Toomey and Pat, Bob Flynn, Tony Flynn and Mary Lynn; and his cousins, Trey, Genny, and David Soong Ellis, Katie Dormant and Josh, Matthew Thomas and Bridget and Patrick Toomey.
Flynn was born April 16, 1997 in Seoul, South Korea. He was a member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church. He attended school at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School and Peachtree Middle School before graduating from Dunwoody High School in 2015. He was a musician, photographer, outdoorsman and served as captain of the debate team in high school. He spent 10 summers at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, N.C. where he earned the top ranking of Paladin. Memorial gifts can be made to Camp Rockmont in the name of the Ty Flynn Memorial Scholarship, 375 Lake Eden Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
A celebration of Flynn’s life is planned for Sunday, May 22, at Brook Run Park at 3 p.m. at the first green space on the right.
Ty, you were a joy to have around and Ian, Polly, Jack, and so many others will miss you dearly. The world is a sadder place without you. Miss Laura
My heart goes out to the young man’s family. My son graduates DHS this week and in the fall will attend GCSU. I cannot imagine their pain. May God please help them through this time.
Ty, I’ll never forget your ordering me to run more laps at Crossfit Perimeter back in the day! You are missed. Prayers lifted for your family. May God give you peace.