Three teenagers turned the weather beacon atop Boston’s Old John Hancock Building into an after-hours hangout Wednesday night, then bolted on foot after what police described as an apparent scuffle with a security guard. Officers were called around 8:20 p.m. and searched rooftop areas but did not find anyone, according to authorities. The trio reportedly exited through the building’s front entrance and ran down Stuart Street toward Clarendon Street, while the guard declined medical attention.
Police told reporters the caller said the people on the beacon were not using any safety equipment, and officers “saw no signs of forced entry” when they checked rooftop access points, as reported by The Boston Globe. The Globe’s account names Hannah Goeke as the author and places the structure in the Back Bay. Boston police said they were investigating but released few additional details.
Photos and witness accounts
Images shared with local television outlets showed at least one person on the beacon Wednesday evening, and NBC10 Boston published a viewer photo that appears to show someone in a T-shirt and shorts standing on top of the light fixture, according to NBC10 Boston. The station reported that police did not immediately say why the teens were on the landmark and offered no suspect descriptions.
About the Berkeley Building and its beacon
The tower often called the Old John Hancock Building is officially the Berkeley Building at 200 Berkeley Street, a Back Bay landmark capped by an illuminated weather beacon that uses colored lights to signal changing forecasts. The building is traditionally described as 26 stories tall, and the beacon has been part of Boston’s skyline for decades, with local coverage and historical write-ups noting its long-running role in signaling rain, snow or clear skies, as detailed by The Boston Globe and architectural histories.
Police response and legal implications
Boston police said they were still investigating the episode and had not announced any arrests or charges in the immediate aftermath, according to local reporting. If the reported shove of a security guard is referred to prosecutors, it could be evaluated under Massachusetts assault and battery statutes, which allow misdemeanor penalties for simple assaults and steeper penalties for aggravated offenses, according to the state statute.
Officials have not said why the teenagers climbed onto the beacon, and investigators say they are still piecing together the timeline. The incident briefly focused attention on the century-old light atop the Berkeley Building and raised fresh questions about how easily people can reach rooftop fixtures over downtown Boston.
