A person is dead after an accident at Geneva Commons shopping mall in west suburban Geneva Friday afternoon, according to the Kane County Coroner.
The man was identified as Donald Tentler, 47, who officials said was a husband and father.
Authorities say Tentler and another man were stuck in the bell tower of the mall. The other man was brought to safety, but Tentler was "somehow crushed" against the top of the tower, said Geneva fire Chief Mike Antenore.
Employees in the area at Geneva Commons said earlier in the day it appeared someone was stuck inside a bell tower, which might have been under construction. First responders could be seen working for hours at the mall's bell tower in a cherry picker.
Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on scene and have opened an investigation.
Kat Smith, who works at the mall's Starbucks, brought flowers to lay at the bell tower.
"I'm sure we must have crossed paths at some point, and like I said, my heart really goes out to the family," she said, adding that she'll never look at the tower the same.
“I’ll always remember,” she said.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
