LONG ISLAND CITY — Carlos Penzo, a 36-year-old resident of the Hayden Apartments, was found dead with stab wounds on August 1, 2025. Emergency medical services pronounced the victim dead at the scene after officers discovered him unresponsive inside his unit.

Officers from the 108th Precinct responded to the call at 43-25 Hunter St. just before 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 1. The Hayden building is located in Long Island City, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, New York, United States.

The victim was discovered unresponsive inside an apartment at the Hayden building on Hunter Street in Long Island City, Queens. Investigators found the body inside a bathroom, where Penzo was sitting upright in a bathtub. He had sustained multiple stab wounds to his head, face, and chest.

Blood was splattered in the bedroom and bathroom of the apartment. Police took a naked man into custody at the scene following the discovery. Law enforcement sources stated that security personnel spotted a naked man using a fire extinguisher on surveillance cameras before attempting to enter an apartment.

Police consider the man taken into custody a person of interest. No arrests have been made in connection with the homicide. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Hayden is a 51-story residential building located in Court Square. Two-bedroom apartments in the Hayden are listed for rents exceeding $6,000 a month. The violence occurred within a high-cost residential complex in a dense urban neighborhood.

Questions remain regarding the events leading up to the death. It is unclear what led to the suspect being naked and using a fire extinguisher prior to entering the apartment. The relationship between the person of interest and the victim has not been disclosed by authorities.

Why It Matters

The homicide investigation within a high-density, 51-story residential tower shows security challenges in large urban complexes where violent incidents can occur despite surveillance systems. The unusual behavior of the person of interest, including nudity and use of a fire extinguisher, presents complex factors for authorities determining the circumstances of the death. With no arrests made, the ongoing probe seeks to clarify the relationship between the suspect and the victim while addressing safety concerns for residents.