Once inside, they found the violent crime scene.
More than 24 hours later, police were still guarding apartment 6C.
The body of a 400-pound man was found in a kitchen closet, stuffed inside a large maroon laundry bag. He reportedly suffered numerous skull fractures.
Raymond Machicote says the victim, identified as Angel Rondon, lived alone at 1815 Bruckner Boulevard. The 50-year-old man's mother died about a year ago.
"He always used to hang out with us outside in the summer," Machicote said. "It's a shock. I don't know what went wrong. But he was real good guy. He didn't bother anybody."
Margo Torain remembers a time when residents in the area didn't lock their doors. That was 35 year ago.
She says a lot has changed, and Saturday afternoon's gruesome discovery is proof it's getting worse.
"It's a matter of keeping your eyes open and minding your business, but if you see something, you have to say something," Torain said.
So far, there's been no word of the cause of death. There are no suspects.