Person of interest questioned in building superintendent's death in Brooklyn
FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Authorities say a well-liked 41-year-old building superintendent died following a fight with a man who was attempting to steal packages from a Brooklyn apartment building.
The 30-year-old person of interest is being questioned following the attack on Burim Havolli on Ocean Avenue on Wednesday morning.
Police say the husband and father to three young children was killed after an apparent altercation over stolen packages.
"He was my big brother, we had so much support from him, not just me, my whole family," the victim's brother Blerim Havolli said.
Havolli described his older brother and said they fled Kosovo after the war in 1999 and built a life in New York, buying property and integrating themselves in the community.
"He loved life a lot, he was very kind, he was very helpful, he helped everyone, every single one, whoever knocked on his door," Havolli said.
A resident and witness described what she saw.
"He had him on the on the gate and was trying to restrain him, his wife was calling the cops and he, the thief, took his iPhone and started beating my super in the head so he was bleeding everywhere," Sarah Abraham said.
Cops eventually arrived and took the suspect into custody, but officials say the super went back in the building.
His brother says Burim eventually told his wife he wasn't feeling well, and collapsed as he went to take a shower. The 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital with head trauma.
Neighbors say package theft is a huge problem in the area and signs even remind residents of it, but everyone is of course shocked by what happened.
"They follow people into buildings, they take packages, and then they scoot away on their scooters...and there's no one held responsible," Flatbush landlord Gail Setton said.
The identity of the person of interest is not yet known and so far no formal charges have been filed.
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