Death at Manhattan homeless shelter investigated as homicide

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A 56-year-old man was found dead at a Manhattan homeless shelter Friday morning, and police are investigating the incident as a homicide.

A security guard found the victim in his room with a thin wire around his neck at the Bellevue Men's Shelter on East 30th Street, and authorities are now searching for a person of interest.

Another homeless resident reportedly seeing a man washing blood from his hands in one of the shelter's bathrooms, and detectives believe the motive is some sort of dispute.

"At this time, we are looking at this as a dispute and we are treating it as a homicide," NYPD Manhattan Chief of Detectives William Aubry said.

Aubry said there were restraints that were used on the victim and that the room appeared like there had been a struggle.

There were 67 people on the floor at the time, and police are continuing to speak to them.

The city Department of Homeless Services released the following statement:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victim. We will have more details about the case when the NYPD investigation is completed. The city is committed to improving shelter safety, which is why we have the NYPD doing a complete review and training DHS peace officers who provide security.