A Brooklyn man, 36-year-old Bretford Brewer, was charged Wednesday with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the fatal stabbing of 36-year-old Carlos Penzo on Aug. 1.
Penzo was found covered in blood and in stab wounds across his body inside a bathtub at his ritzy Long Island City apartment complex, located at 43-25 Hunter St., the Hayden building.
Authorities found him with multiple stab wounds during a wellness check in the building on Hunter Street just before 1 p.m., and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident unfolded Saturday after what
sources familiar with the investigation report: the two men met on social media and intended to hook up for the night.
Something triggered a verbal dispute between the two men that ended with Brewer allegedly attacking Penzo with a knife, causing his death.
The discovery came when
building security reported seeing a naked man on the roof who had sprayed a fire extinguisher at the camera, according to police sources.
The man then tried to enter an apartment before he was taken into custody and brought to Elmhurst Hospital.
Brewer was found on the rooftop in the nude.
Officers found another knife on the bed and a broken knife in the kitchen sink, police sources explained.
A wellness check was requested for the apartment, and once officers entered the unit, they found the victim in the bathtub with a knife and taser in his lap, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Building residents remembered Penzo as friendly.
Other building residents remembered the victim as a friendly guy.
Penzo’s family was devastated.
“He was the best person in the world,” the victim’s brother told the Daily News. “Ain’t no soul as great as his in this world.”
Recovered security video shows Penzo entering his building about 10 p.m. the night before with the apprehended man.
An hour later, the individual went into the victim’s apartment, only to never leave.
Police also believe additional men were in the apartment.
Police believe up to two other men may also have been in the apartment.
The investigation intensified as detectives traced the men’s movements.
Sources said a 911 call was made from Penzo’s phone earlier in the day, but officers couldn’t find him because they didn’t have his apartment number.
Brewer remained in custody after his arrest.
Police arrested Bretford Brewer, 36, of Brooklyn, on Wednesday evening, and he is facing murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges.
The Hayden is an upscale residence.
Brewer’s arraignment at Queens Criminal Court is pending as of Thursday.