A 19-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, was found dead on a garage roof in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, on the evening of August 14, 2025. The individual had been stabbed while attempting to escape his assailant, according to police reports.
Authorities identified the victim as Jayson Fernandez, who was found around 6:15 p.m. near 93rd Street and 37th Avenue. He had suffered a stab wound to his abdomen. Police officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in progress, finding Fernandez unconscious and bleeding on the roof of a detached garage at the rear of a residential property.
Law enforcement sources indicated that Fernandez engaged in a confrontation with a male suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt before the stabbing occurred. After being wounded, Fernandez climbed onto the garage roof, where officers later discovered him.
Emergency medical personnel transported Fernandez to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Fernandez was a resident of East New York, Brooklyn, approximately 10 miles from the location of the incident.
Police sources reported finding a pool of blood on the street. They followed a trail of blood to the garage, where Fernandez was found.
Detectives from the 115th Precinct are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify the suspect. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not released a description of the suspect, who remains at large.
According to law enforcement sources, the area where the stabbing occurred is known for drug activity. Fernandez was believed to have associations with the Trinitarios, a Dominican American gang founded in New York City, though investigators are still exploring potential gang-related aspects of the incident.
Police records show that Fernandez had only one previous arrest for fare evasion. Authorities have yet to determine if the property where the stabbing took place was linked to the victim or the suspect, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas stated, “Yesterday’s stabbing death of 19-year-old Jason(Jayson) Fernandez in Jackson Heights is a heart-wrenching tragedy.” She expressed condolences to the affected families and emphasized the need for systemic change to address community violence.
Crime statistics from the 115th Precinct show four murders reported through August 10, 2025, compared to two at the same point in 2024, marking a 100 percent increase according to CompStat data. Local residents expressed that crime in the Jackson Heights area is not surprising, with one neighbor noting that violence regularly occurs in the neighborhood.
The New York Police Department continues to investigate the homicide and has asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website or via social media platforms, with all communications remaining confidential.
Detectives are working to establish a timeline of events leading up to the stabbing and determine whether the attack was random or targeted. The investigation includes examining potential connections between the victim and suspect, as well as any gang-related motives that may have contributed to the violence.
