GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – FOX 17 has learned that Kevin O’Brien, the man who fell four stories in a back stairwell inside the B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids underwent surgery to donate his organs on Monday evening.
Quincy Pearson, a long-time friend O’Brien, said that through death his friend will save the life of someone else. O’Brien was pronounced dead just after 7:00 p.m. on Monday.
Pearson said he is still looking for answers, such as what caused O’Brien to fall four stories.
For ten years, Pearson and O’Brien were friends, remaining close even after O’Brien moved to California to work for the border patrol. When O’Brien moved back to West Michigan to be close to friends and family, Pearson offered him a job restoring houses. “We’re at that age where you just want to settle down and have a career and have a family,” said Pearson.
Pearson said that on Saturday night O’Brien asked him to go out for a couple of drinks after work. Pearson said he decided not to go Saturday, and found out something was wrong from text messages in the morning.
O’Brien ended up at Eve, a nightclub inside the B.O.B. “He liked the B.O.B.,” said Pearson. “He would go there all the time.”
Police are still investigating what caused O’Brien to fall down a four-story stairwell early Sunday. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
“Such a hard loss,” said Pearson, “even for the people who just met him, because you can see how he shines. He’s just that kind of person.”
After hearing what happened, Pearson said, things didn’t add up. “He’ not the kind of guy that would take risks like that,” he said.
Like others close to O’Brien, Pearson is hoping answers will come soon.
“Whether he tripped or fell or got pushed, no one knows. That is the big issue and would give closure to the whole ordeal, if someone would just say what happened.”
FOX 17 tried several times to reach the owner of the B.O.B., Greg Gilmore, but our calls for comment were not returned.
We did speak with Grand Rapids City Commissioner Walt Gutowksi. He said he expects the police chief to talk about the two recent falls at Tuesday’s scheduled city commission meeting.
The Commissioner said until the police wrap up the investigation he doesn’t expect any action from the commission.
