Arrest Made After East New York Man Dies Following Fight: NYPD

Pictured: 552 Alabama Ave. Image via Google Maps.

EAST NEW YORK, BROOKLYN, NY — An arrest has been made following the death of an East New York man who was punched following a fight, according to the NYPD.

On June 29, police found Shawn Benjamin, 42, unresponsive outside 552 Alabama Ave., just steps from his home, according to the NYPD. Benjamin was taken to Brookdale Hospital in critical condition, where he died on July 3.

According to police, a witness said Benjamin had been in a verbal fight with another man who hit him in the face. Benjamin then fell and struck his head on the pavement, police said.

The man who hit Benjamin fled, but on July 7, police announced the arrest of Kirk Graham, 39, also of East New York.

Police charged Graham with assault. The investigation into Benjamin's death was ongoing, according to the NYPD.

Graham had yet to be arraigned as of Thursday morning, according to city records.

This assault occurred in the NYPD's 75th Precinct, which covers East New York. According to official police statistics, through June 26, major crime was down about 1.6 percent in the 75th compared to the same period last year.

A total of 13 murders had been recorded by police through June 26, compared to 12 in 2015. However, 428 felony assaults had been recorded, compared to 373 in 2015, an increase of nearly 15 percent.