ATLANTA — The father of a woman killed after she plunged out of a window on the 10th floor of the W Hotel in midtown hotel said his daughter's death was definitely an accident.
But that doesn't mean Maurice Threatt doesn't believe somebody shoulders some of the blame for LaShawna Threatt's early Saturday death.
"It was definitely an accident, but faulty windows on a high rise? Come on. Ten stories high? Unbelievable," Threatt told Channel 2's Tony Thomas Wednesday night.
The family gathered with about 100 of the model's friends and co-workers for a fundraiser to bring in donations to help cover the 30-year-old's funeral costs. She will be buried on Friday.
As attendees at the Aurum Nightclub in midtown arrived Wednesday night, they filled out cards with messages to the family and then most donated money. At the end of the evening, organizer Camille Binder handed Threatt's daughter and sister envelopes containing several hundred dollars.
"This is just a small token from everybody here," Binder told the family.
Friends organized the event at a nightclub because Threatt worked promotions at many of the nightclub events around Atlanta. As her friends and family gathered, a video of her at parties and with friends played on a big screen over a bar.
Many who came had partied with her Friday night into Saturday as she celebrated her 30th birthday. After a dinner at Atlantic Station, a few of her close friends went to a room on the 10th floor of the W Hotel to continue the party. Early Saturday, just after the group arrived in the room, Atlanta police said Threatt and friend Cierra Williams plunged out of a window as they "play fighted." Threatt was killed. Williams was critically injured and remains at Grady Hospital.
Police call the entire incident a tragic accident.
The W Hotel said it has launched its own investigation.
In a written statement, hotel manager Michael O'Donohue said, "We are taking this horrible accident very, very seriously. Like everyone, it's hard for us to understand exactly how this happened. Rest assured, the safety and security of our guests and associates is paramount."
Maurice Threat has a difference description. "A nightmare. It's still beyond a nightmare," he said.
LaShawna Threatt's friends said they will gather Friday to send her away Red Carpet style, just the way she would want it.
"It still seems unbelievable. It was too short. Her life was too short," said friend Nicole Constelano as she left the event Wednesday.