Jose Lucero, 22-Year-Old Stagehand for MTV Movie Awards, Dies in Scaffolding Fall at Universal CityWalk

By Simone Wilson Fri., Jun. 8 2012 at 3:00 PM

Jose Lucero via Facebook

The victim, three days before his death.

Updated at the bottom: Cal/OSHA confirms that Lucero was taking down the MTV Movie Awards set, and says he may not have been wearing fall protection.

Originally posted at 1:05 p.m.

A young man who said on his Facebook that he was on the MTV Movie Awards set this week has died tragically in a 60-foot fall from scaffolding at the Gibson Ampitheatre, located at Universal CityWalk.

City News Service reports that 22-year-old Jose Lucero was rushed to the hospital around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, where he died soon after.

Lucero lists himself online as a stagehand for IATSE Local 33, a union that has worked with MTV in the past. The awards show took place on Sunday at the same amphitheater where Lucero died on Wednesday morning.

We have not been able to confirm that he was taking down the MTV set when he fell. However, his friend on Twitter writes: "R.I P JOSE LUCERO WHO DIED WHILE WORKIN ON MTV SET." And Lucero apparently worked on the same set last year.

The victim's Facebook photos show he was assigned to many other high-profile L.A. events as well, including the Academy Awards and a Chris Brown concert at Staples. Here's a photo he says he took from above the Grammies:

Jose Lucero via Facebook

"Grammy load out."

A representative for IATSE Local 33 will say only that Lucero's death is "under investigation." We've contacted Cal/OSHA for its analysis of the incident.

Did you know the victim, or see what happened to him on Wednesday? Let us know.

Update: Peter Melton, a spokesman for Cal/OSHA (the state agency that investigates on-the-job fatalities), says Lucero's crew was hired to remove the MTV Movie Awards setup from the Gibson Amphitheatre.

"The deceased was a rigger for union Local 33," says Melton. "He fell from an area above the stage -- a grid of steel beams that are accessed by catwalks."

Whereas the catwalks are protected by railings, this grid of beams at the center -- called the "ozone" -- is not. Melton says Lucero may not have been wearing the required fall protection when he entered this area. However, he later calls us back to say the "fall-protection thing is still under investigation."

[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

Gibson Ampitheatre, IATSE Local 33, Jose Lucero, MTV Movie Awards, stagehand, Universal CityWalk

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Nowimps042

Hey Kris this I one of Jose's friend from junior high porter middle school. Mike solis Jose was a great guy and I also had the privlage to play football with Jose lucero #21 with the north valley golden bears I have so many memory's of my dear friend but lost contact after junior high went to different high schools do if u please can let me know about all the services thank you do much may Jose Lucero R.I.P

kris

i would just like to say that i work with jose's mother who is the most amazing woman i have ever met. i have not personally met jose but if he was anything like his mother it would have been a inspiration to meet him. i can say he left a amazing mother, and father, a teenage brother and two little brothers that all looked up to him and many more. he will be greatly missed and my condolences go out to his family. may he rest in peace...with love Kris

Inquiring Mind

Right, fear of rigging! Grow up. What I dislike are people who are not attorneys dispensing legal advice, or anyone advocating censorship based upon personal biases. I personally like the 1st Amendment. I also like to know what happens in OSHA investigations when workers are killed on the job. Call it professional interest if you must have an answer. Got a problem with that, too bad. What are you?-- a union rep waterboy, making a few bucks more just to suck ass? Hoist that up.

Inquiring Mind

The truth is the truth. What is it? What is the truth? What happened? Take your guilt trip and shove it, Love! It doesn't work, especially backed by a reference to a eighth grade level TV show, a really bad one at that. And people who are mourning this loss are actually reading the LA Weekly as part of that process? Really? OK! My heartfelt condolences. Now what happened? Why is everyone so afraid of the "reality" of what occurred? And thanks for your concern about my "well being." I'll be just fine keeping an open mind and searching for the truth unclouded by emotions limited by fear of the truth.

Roberteastview

I just read this. And the comments. This article is terrible for all the reasons Julian mentions below. @Inquiring Mind - Who the f are YOU? Some kind of f in advocate? Your comments and tone betray your dislike for the Local. Did you think you were gonna be a rigger but then go up and vomit?

Julian Major

hey im just saying you made it seem like he was some wierdo with no friends... seemed very nonchalant... sorry I was upset... if that was a person you knew, or cared about even it would have had a more sensitive tone...

With Love

Remember " Nelly" on Little House on The Prairie.... Insensitive ,Heartless, Mean, Spoiled little girl. Your words have unfortunately conjured her into mind. Life boils down to 2 emotions ( not being sarcastic; I hope your remember what emotions are). These emotions being Love and Fear. We do not need to know what you are afraid of... I would encourage you with kindness to reflect upon this, for your own well being. In a time when people are mourning I would hope we would all choose to come from a place of Love.

Inquiring Mind

Wow, an anonymous 33 member dispensing legal advice to the entire Internet world. What happened there, that day, that has you so worried about the "truth" coming out? Are there other business or worker safety violations that may come to light with an open discourse. Many instances of labor abuses and/or mismanagement have come out by just such an open discourse. Or, conversely, is the business completely in the right, and it was a matter of personal error and a lack of good judgment, which might inhibit a "wrongful death" lawsuit? OSHA will find out anyway, and that data will be a matter of public record. And then the real lawyers will dispense sound legal advice and hash out all the details.

I agree with the above post. And, if I may as a member of Local 33, I would encourage any person who was there on this day to NOT speak to any sort of news, media , press etc..

Strawberriesncream818

I personally think that it all takes time and everything will be investigated everything will take its course. It's of very bad taste to bad mouth anyone at a sensitive time like this. Jose was very loved by a lot of people and yes he was very special to a lot of us. Please let his beautiful family mourn him in peace instead of arguing over this article...... Its very hard to see his family going through an unexpected tragedy like this..... Jose may your beautiful soul rest in peace....

Inquiring Mind

So Julian-- WAS your faternal brother wearing his "required Fall protection?" And if not---WHY not?

guest

I'm a stagehand for IATSE and I combed the web for info on this tragedy and this was actually the most informed article I could find. I understand there is anger and grief among the family, friends and Local 33. We are a close knit bunch doing a dangerous job, but to attack the author in this particular case doesn't seem warranted, There are a lot of unanswered questions still at this point...don't be so quick to blame the writer. I didn't find the article offensive at all. What I find more offensive is the "...in a world where everyone at work is 2-3 times your age and a grumpy lonely, loser with sand in his twat" remark. I'm sure the guys at work will appreciate reading that.