A New York City adventure took an unexpected twist when a tourist witnessed a couple slipping through what seemed to be a forbidden access point at the Empire State Building. Just moments later, the fearless duo made headlines by climbing the iconic landmark’s 1,454-foot antenna to stage a daring marriage proposal. Their actions, culminating in an arrest, have sparked discussions about security measures at the famous site.

Julie Morris recalled her astonishing experience to WABC-TV. She had been taking in the views from the building’s 102nd-floor observation deck when she noticed two individuals confidently bypassing a mesh gate. It led them into an area that certainly seemed off-limits, heading straight for the antenna.

“I was at the very top when these two people appeared. They just opened the mesh gate. I assumed they were employees, and nobody seemed to intervene,” Morris shared with a mix of disbelief and intrigue.

Authorities later identified these intrepid climbers as Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32. This Russian couple has gained notoriety for their exhilarating climbs of skyscrapers and towering edifices worldwide. Their thrilling escapades were previously chronicled in the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which showcased their unauthorized ascents.

The couple climbed the Empire State Building’s iconic transmitter, unfurled a banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” then embraced before Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed.

After she said yes, Nikolau admired the ring before the couple continued climbing down the spire, where officers with the NYPD Emergency Service Unit met them and took them into custody.

Police arrested the pair on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, possession of burglar’s tools, disorderly conduct and other offenses.

Police are reviewing surveillance footage and believe the pair entered the antenna through a locked maintenance hatch on the 102nd-floor observation deck after apparently watching staff movements, WABC reported. Detectives are also investigating how the hatch was opened.

The Empire State Building did not answer questions about how the climbers reached the antenna or whether they had any interactions with security personnel before accessing the restricted area.

In a statement, building management said the climb was “unauthorized” and insisted there was “at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests.” Management added that the observation deck “does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”

The stunt briefly disrupted visits to the landmark, with some tourists evacuated from observation decks while police responded.

“At first, it was kind of like comical and seemed a little bit wild and crazy,” witness Laura Staub told the local station. “And then I’ll be honest, once you’re out on the observation deck, I was like, I feel like we shouldn’t be out here. It didn’t really seem like super safe.”

News helicopter footage showed the couple, dressed in black and without visible safety tethers, balancing on a narrow ledge atop the antenna before climbing back down through the latticework of the spire. NYPD bodycam footage later showed officers greeting the pair inside the structure before escorting them to safety.

Nikolau later posted images of the proposal and ring on social media.

A teenager accused of the fatal shooting of a Penn State University student and the theft of his phone was apprehended in Colorado. His stepfather is suspected of assisting him in evading law enforcement.

Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, was captured by US Marshals in Colorado Springs on Wednesday. This arrest comes nearly a month after he was identified as a suspect in the murder of 22-year-old Billy Schmidt, which occurred on the streets of South Philadelphia.

Authorities are still on the lookout for a second suspect, 16-year-old Kaiseem Smith, who remains at large.

The arrest of Outen-Fleming occurred just hours after his stepfather, Donte Abdulmalik, was taken into custody. Abdulmalik faces charges including hindering apprehension, obstructing justice, and tampering with evidence.

Abdulmalik, 35, is accused of assisting Outen-Fleming in fleeing from Pennsylvania and helping him hide over 1,500 miles away in Colorado.

The teen was found at a distant relative’s home and, after initially trying to deny his identity, was arrested by the US Marshals Service (USMS) Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, according to officials.

He is being held at the Zebulon Pike Youth Center, awaiting extradition to Philadelphia. 

Outen-Fleming and Smith are expected to face multiple charges, including murder, criminal conspiracy and robbery, among other offences, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities said up to $30,000 in reward money is being offered for information in the case as the search continues for Smith, who is described as around 4ft10.

The office said that both boys will be charged as adults. 

‘There’s nothing that is going to bring him back. So, nothing is going to be enough for me,’ William Schmidt, the victim’s father, told WPVI News.

The death of his son, who was gunned down just across the street from the family home, has made living near the crime scene unbearable, he told the outlet.

‘It was just me and him here, and you know, it’s a three-bedroom house. So, I just need to get out, right now.’

William ‘Billy’ Schmidt, who had just finished his third year at Pennsylvania State University, was shot dead around 1.30am on June 6 while walking home from an NBA Finals watch party at a local bar.

He was moments from reaching his family home on the 1900 block of Durfor Street when he came face to face with the two masked suspects, with disturbing footage capturing the scene. 

Outen-Fleming appeared to grab Schmidt’s phone, punch him and then rummage through the student’s pockets.

Both teens allegedly knocked Schmidt to the sidewalk before walking away, with a suspect who is believed to be Smith ‘observed with a gun in his hand.’

The footage showed Schmidt walking behind the two suspects and pleading for his phone, before one of them is seen throwing it down the block. 

In the videos, taken by multiple cameras from different angles, two young men in dark clothing with their hoods up can be seen talking to Schmidt, who could be heard saying: ‘Give me back my phone.’ 

The DA’s office said the two teens then split up.

Smith reached into his back pocket, pulled out a gun and fired a deadly shot into Schmidt’s chest, prosecutors say.

The teens disposed of their hoodies and masks before walking away from the scene and getting into an SUV, according to the DA. At that point, both men were wearing white t–shirts, police said.

Schmidt was quickly rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just 17 minutes after the shooting. 

‘Over a phone. It’s abhorrent. It’s just unbelievable that someone would kill someone over a phone,’ Ezra Roulinavage, one of the family’s neighbors, told NBC Philadelphia. 

Members of the public with any information can call the Philadelphia Police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or the US Marshals Service tip line at 1-877-WANTED-2.