Police said Hakeem Kuta, 17, was backing away from them and misjudged the placement of a ledge after fleeing up stairs following a marijuana complaint

New York teen dies after falling off roof as police attempted to arrest him

Police say a New York City teenager has died after falling off the roof of a six-story Bronx building as police officers attempted an arrest.

The New York Police Department says 17-year-old Hakeem Kuta succumbed Saturday to injuries from the fall Thursday night.

Police have said Kuta appeared to have misjudged a ledge while backing away from approaching officers.

Police spokesman Stephen Davis said previously that officers had chased the teenager and other teenagers up the stairs after someone complained that they were smoking marijuana.

Davis said when the officers got to the roof, some teens jumped to another roof and ran away. But Kuta and his 14-year-old companion were pinned in by a dividing wall. Davis said Kuta then shuffled backward over a ledge and fell.