Police in Brooklyn are investigating the discovery of an unidentified man’s body inside a garbage bag in Canarsie, after surveillance footage appeared to show the bag being left beside a church and later moved along the street.
The body was found on Friday morning, 30 October 2026, near East 93rd Street and Avenue L in Canarsie, New York. Officers responding to a 911 call at approximately 9.20am found the man unresponsive, and emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators have not publicly identified the man or established how he died. He is believed to have been in his 50s or 60s. No arrests had been announced in the latest police-attributed reporting available on Saturday, 31 October.
What the surveillance footage shows
News 12 Brooklyn reported that CCTV footage shows a person removing a large bag from the boot of a light-coloured car and leaving it outside a church nearby. Separate footage shows someone approaching the bag later with a trolley and moving it along the block.
Local residents told News 12 that the person with the trolley was known for collecting discarded items and scrap metal. According to a person who spoke with him, he discovered a body when he opened the bag and alerted a sanitation worker, who contacted police.
NBC New York reported that another man, possibly the driver of an unlicensed taxi, was visible near the car. The broadcaster stressed that it was not clear whether the driver knew what was inside the bag. The footage alone does not establish whether either person committed a crime.
What we know
- The body was found near East 93rd Street and Avenue L at approximately 9.20am on Friday, 30 October.
- Police and local media have described the deceased as a man believed to be in his 50s or 60s.
- Multiple local television stations have reported surveillance footage showing the bag being left by a car and later moved by a person using a trolley.
- Sanitation workers were alerted before police responded, according to police-attributed reports.
What we don’t know
- The man’s name, precise age or when he died.
- His cause and manner of death, which the city medical examiner’s office is investigating.
- Who initially left the bag or what the people visible in the footage knew about its contents.
- Whether detectives have identified any suspects or established that a homicide occurred.
What police have said
Police confirmed that officers responded to the area of East 93rd Street and Avenue L, where they found an unresponsive man. The city’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine how he died. CBS New York reported on Friday evening that no arrests had been made.
Gothamist reported that police searched several blocks and visited nearby businesses for surveillance video. The outlet also reported that police described the body as badly decomposed.
Although the circumstances are suspicious, the death has not been publicly confirmed as a murder. No person shown in the surveillance video should be assumed guilty of an offence without further evidence.
Information for investigators
Anyone with relevant information can contact NYPD Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) in the United States.
Sources
- ABC7 New York: Man found dead inside garbage bag in Brooklyn
- News 12 Brooklyn: Investigation underway after body discovered in Canarsie
- NBC New York: Police investigating after body found on Brooklyn sidewalk
- CBS New York: Body found in trash bag in Brooklyn
- Gothamist: Police search several blocks after discovery
