Longwood residents on edge after man found dead inside apartment building
Investigators say they found a man dead inside an apartment on Longfellow Avenue with a knife in his chest.
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Residents in Longwood say they are concerned about their safety after a man was found dead inside an apartment building Wednesday evening in what police are investigating as a homicide.
Investigators say they found a man dead inside an apartment on Longfellow Avenue with a knife in his chest. As of Thursday evening, authorities had not publicly identified the victim, named any suspects or announced any arrests.
Those who live nearby said the discovery has left them shaken.
"It sucks, man. It makes you wonder about your own safety," said Fernando, a Longwood resident.
Fernando said he first realized something was wrong when he saw a large police presence outside the building.
"I saw commotion, the cops and whatnot, you know? The tape, the crime tape. Something must be wrong. Then another neighbor told me they found a body in there. It sucks," he said.
Some neighbors told News 12 they noticed a strong odor coming from the building days before the body was discovered.
According to the landlord, one of their workers found the man after investigating where the smell was coming from.
Police tape remained outside the building more than a day after the discovery. For some residents, the building's history has only added to their concerns.
In 2018, the building made headlines after a couple was charged in the death and dismemberment of 25-year-old Lisa Marie Velasquez.
"It's got to be haunted or something. Something is going on there," Fernando said.
The building is located near Lyons Square Playground, where neighborhood families and children frequently gather.
"There's a lot of children that come up here. There's a school right up the block and there's a lot of good families," said Robert De Jesus, a Longwood resident.
De Jesus said the case raises broader questions about support services for vulnerable residents.
The landlord told News 12 that the man who was found dead had been living in the apartment with another man through a supportive housing program called RiseWell.
"Agencies are overworked and underpaid and a lot of these agencies need more resources. Yeah, they get people housing, but they clearly need follow-up services too," De Jesus said.
News 12 reached out to RiseWell for comment but had not received a response as of Thursday evening.
The landlord also told News 12 they believe the man's roommate may have been living in the apartment with the body for several days and could be responsible for the killing. Police have not publicly identified a suspect, and authorities have not confirmed that information.
The investigation remains active.
