Canarsie cops say a homeless man found strangled to death and wrapped inside a blanket along a stretch of Long Island Rail Road train tracks was killed by other homeless who live there.
Police sources said Anthony Allen’s body was found tucked away under some shrubs along the infrequently used freight tracks near Remsen Avenue and Avenue D at 2:20 pm. An autopsy later revealed he was strangled.
The 28-year-old Allen, who had been arrested on multiple drug offenses, may have been living along the tracks with other homeless. His family told police that they kicked Allen out weeks ago because of his drug problems and last saw him alive on May 28.
Investigators from the 69th Precinct are working on the theory that Allen was killed as he fought with other homeless along the train tracks.
“He must have had a dispute with someone up there, probably something to do with either buying or selling drugs,” one police source said. “They then wrapped the body up and tried to hide it. No one would have discovered the body if workers maintaining the railroad tracks had come along to clear out the weeds and bushes.”
This is the first homicide to take place in Canarsie this year.
Residents haven’t been complaining about homeless living along the tracks in the neighborhood, as most keep to themselves.
The city’s Department of Homeless Services said the number of homeless on Brooklyn streets has dropped since 2010, from 428 to 242 this year. Yet they could not say with any authority if Canarsie had a homeless problem.
“Our last count was for the entire borough, not specific neighborhoods,” a Department of Homeless Services representative told us.
Anyone with information regarding this killing is urged to come forward. Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
