Teen subway surfing victim recalled fondly by stunned Staten Island neighbors: ‘Everybody is shocked’
A Staten Island teen who died subway surfing was fondly recalled Thursday by shocked neighbors as a good kid and devoted son.
Gregory Jantzen, 15, died at Staten Island University Hospital North following the deadly accident where the teen was found unconscious atop the train with a fatal head wound — the latest tragedy tied to the dangerous stunt.
He slammed into an overhead walkway after clambering on top of a train car, sources told the Staten Island Advance.
Devastated family members declined Thursday to speak about the afternoon death one day earlier on the Staten Island Railway at the Eltingville station. Neighbors offered their memories of the local youth whose birthday loomed on June 1.
“He was a nice boy, he used to play with my grandson,” said one woman. “I was really shocked ... Everybody is shocked.”
The victim attended Tottenville High school, according to The Advance. He was with friends when he alone attempted to subway surf, police sources said.
Neighbor Phil Giambalvo, 64, remembered Gregory as a devoted son often seen helping his father or taking the family dogs for a walk.
“This seems really close to home,” said Giambalvo. “Boy, that’s something, that’s very sad. He didn’t seem like a wise (guy) or anything.”
The NYPD said the dangerous rides atop moving trains are now a disturbing trend, with two other youths killed in the last six months. Zachary Nazario, 15, was struck by a low beam atop a train crossing the Williamsburg Bridge this past February.
And Ka’Von Wooden, also 15, fell to his death last December while riding on the roof of a train approaching a Lower East Side station.
MTA statistics showed 928 incidents of riding between cars or subway surfing in 2022, up from 206 the prior year. Daredevil tourists from Europe pose an additional risk, with some taking video to post on social media, police said.
A third neighbor was just as surprised to learn about Gregory’s tragic death and offered nothing but warm recollections of the teen victim.
“This kid was a great kid as far as I could tell, never any trouble,” he said. “It’s a terrible situation. I’m surprised to hear about it on Staten Island. Usually it’s where there are more trains.”
A small memorial of flowers and candles sprung up at the Eltingville station after the teen tragedy.
“This was an awful situation that demonstrates again the deadly risk taken by anyone who attempts to subway surf,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “Our hearts go out to loved ones who have senselessly lost a child.”
