Police Look for Answers After Three Deaths in Three Brooklyn Neighborhoods

EAST WILLIAMSBURG – A homeless man was crushed to death by a truck yesterday after he sought shelter from the summer rain under the vehicle.

The accident occurred yesterday, August 14, at the loading dock at 1177 Flushing Avenue, near the intersection with Varick. Sometime during the day, the victim placed a pallet under the rear of a 25-foot box truck and laid down, possibly falling asleep, said police.

In the evening, around 6:00 pm, the driver of the truck pulled forward, and thinking the vehicle was stuck on something, reversed the vehicle, crushing the man to death, said police.

The driver remained on the scene until police arrived. EMS pronounced the victim dead at the scene and authorities are now trying to confirm his identity. There have been no arrests or charges at this time.

CROWN HEIGHTS – Later last night, police received a 911 call of an unconscious male in a Franklin Avenue apartment, around 8:50 pm on Tuesday, August 14.

Arriving at 570 Franklin Avenue, just off Atlantic, police found 58-year old Devon McCormick in a bedroom, unconscious and unresponsive. A resident of 570 Franklin, McCormick had no obvious signs of trauma, police said.

Responding EMS attempted to help McCormick, but ultimately pronounced him dead at the scene. An investigation into his death is underway, though no arrests have yet been made. The medical examiner will determine McCormick’s cause of death.

BRIGHTON BEACH – Around 10:30 am, a little more than a week ago, on Monday, August 6, police received a call of a body floating in the water near the Verrazano Bridge.

NYPD Harbor units found the body in the water, unconscious and unresponsive, and brought the man to the Kingsboro College dock in Brighton Beach, said police. EMS pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death, but so far, authorities are still working to identify the body. A composite sketch has been released, along with a picture of an iron cross bracelet the man was wearing:

Anyone with information in regards to the above incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.