Fort Greene Senior Dies After Streetcorner Altercation, Killer Arrested

FORT GREENE – An 80-year old man died last weekend after being pushed to the ground in an altercation, said police, and the man responsible has been arrested.

On the night on Sunday, August 26, around 8:00 pm, police received a 911 call of an unconscious man on the corner of Hanson Place and South Elliot Place in Fort Greene. Arriving to the scene, officers found 80-year old Jose Vera unconscious and unresponsive on the ground, with trauma to the back of his head.

EMS transported Vera, who lived nearby, to Methodist Hospital for treatment. A few days later, on Saturday, September 1, Vera succumbed to his injuries and died.

Police arrested Aristidez Perez, 41, and charged him with assault in the days following the altercation. The charges, however, came before Vera died, and may be upgraded following his passing. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Visitation for Jose Vera will take place at Daniel J. Schaefer Funeral Home in Sunset Park, starting at 2:00 pm today.