Police say they found a patient strangled inside the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center.

Police say 28-year-old patient Shakim Devega was found unconscious inside the center around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. EMS took him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County where he was pronounced dead. Officials found severe trauma to his neck and chest. Shortly after, the medical examiner deemed Devega's death a homicide.

The state's sex offender website shows Devega was convicted in 2019 of sexually abusing a 6-year-old boy. He was sentenced to 42 months in state prison and was currently staying at the outpatient center.

A patient of the center tells News 12 that Devega didn't have problems with anyone. Neighbors in the area weren't surprised by the incident and say they've witnessed patients walking around the block at odd hours of the night.

It's unclear what led up to Devega's death or how this happened inside the psychiatric center where patients are supposed to be supervised, police say.

News 12 reached out to the state Office of Mental Health, which said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement.