A 19-year-old man from Brooklyn was found dead from a stabbing on the rooftop of a garage in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, on August 14, 2025. Police say he was fleeing from his attacker.
Jayson Fernandez was discovered around 6:15 p.m. near the intersection of 93rd Street and 37th Avenue with a stab wound to his abdomen, according to authorities. Responding officers to a 911 call about an ongoing assault found Fernandez unconscious and bleeding on the roof of a detached garage behind a residential building.
Law enforcement sources reported that Fernandez had an altercation with a male attacker wearing a hooded sweatshirt before being stabbed. After the attack, Fernandez climbed onto the garage roof, where he was later found by officers.
Emergency medical services transported Fernandez to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. Fernandez was identified as a resident of East New York, Brooklyn, approximately 10 miles from the site of the stabbing.
Police sources noted that officers discovered a pool of blood on the street and followed a trail leading to the back garage, where Fernandez was located.
Investigators from the 115th Precinct are reviewing surveillance footage from the vicinity to identify the suspect. No arrests have been made, and a description of the suspect has not been released.
According to law enforcement sources, the area where the incident occurred is known for drug activity. They also mentioned that Fernandez was believed to be associated with the Trinitarios, a Dominican American gang founded in New York City, though investigators are still exploring potential gang connections to the stabbing.
Police records indicate that Fernandez had one prior arrest for turnstile jumping. Authorities have not clarified whether the property where the attack occurred belonged to the victim or the suspect, and the motive remains unclear.
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas remarked that “yesterday’s stabbing death of 19-year-old Jason Fernandez in Jackson Heights is a heart-wrenching tragedy.” She extended condolences to the families involved and highlighted 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 during the same period in 2024, indicating a 100 percent rise according to CompStat data. Local residents expressed that crime in the Jackson Heights neighborhood is not unusual, with one neighbor noting that violence regularly occurs there.
The New York Police Department continues to investigate the homicide and has requested that anyone with information reach out to Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website or through social media platforms, with all communications treated as confidential.
Detectives are working to establish a timeline of events leading up to the stabbing and determine if the attack was random or targeted. The investigation includes examining possible connections between the victim and suspect, as well as any gang-related motives that may have contributed to the violence.
