Brooklyn, New York — A 56-year-old New York City Housing Authority employee was killed by a falling tree as powerful winds and heavy rain from a nor’easter swept through the city over the weekend.

The worker, identified as Leighton Brown, was fatally struck Saturday, Sept. 26, while walking through a parking lot at Cypress Hills Houses in Brooklyn, according to the New York City Police Department.

Brown was rushed to One Brooklyn Health-Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in critical condition after being struck. Police said he was suffering from “trauma throughout [his] body.” He was later pronounced dead.

NYCHA Mourns Loss of Longtime Worker

The death came as strong winds and heavy rain moved across New York City and other parts of the Tri-State area. NYCHA released a statement expressing grief over Brown’s death and extending condolences to his family and colleagues.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Brown’s family and the NYCHA community,” the NYCHA said in a statement.

The circumstances of Brown’s death quickly spread through the Cypress Hills community, where residents said he was a familiar and well-liked presence.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also addressed the tragedy following the incident.

“Tonight, we are mourning the loss of one of our own after NYCHA employee, Leighton Brown, died while at Cypress Hills Houses in Brooklyn,”

Mamdani added:

“My thoughts are with his entire family as they deal with this unimaginable loss. May he rest in peace, and may his service to our city never be forgotten,”

Resident Heard a “Big Bang”

David Ortiz, who lives in a nearby apartment complex, told the New York Daily News that he and his wife were inside when they suddenly heard a loud sound.

Ortiz said they looked outside and realized that a tree had fallen.

“He was already gone, you could tell he was gone,”

Ortiz described the tree as extremely large and heavy.

“That was a big, heavy tree that fell on top of him.”

The incident left nearby residents shocked as they realized that the person beneath the tree was someone many of them knew.

Brown Was Known and Loved in the Community

For residents of Cypress Hills, Brown was more than a NYCHA employee. Ortiz said Brown had recently visited his apartment to fix a light and described him as kind and friendly.

“He came the other day to fix my light, and they told me that he was the one that was under the tree,”

Ortiz recalled Brown’s affection for his dog and the lighthearted relationship they had developed.

“He was very kind. He loved my dog. He was like, ‘I’m going to kidnap your dog one day.’ It’s so sad. Like I got goosebumps,”

The comments reflected the suddenness of the loss for residents who had interacted with Brown in their homes and around the development.

Tenant Leader Calls Him One of the Best

James Alcivar, president of the NYCHA Cypress Hills Tenant Association, also remembered Brown as a dedicated employee. Speaking to NY1, Alcivar called Brown “one of the best employees that we had here at Cyprus Hills Development.”

He said residents knew Brown as someone they could turn to when something in their homes needed attention.

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“If you had work that needed to be done in your house, he was the guy to call,”

Alcivar also emphasized Brown’s dedication to his work.

“He comes here dedicated. As you can see, this tragic accident, he was doing what he loved.”

Dangerous Weather Sweeps New York

Brown’s death occurred during a period of heavy rain and powerful wind gusts across the New York City region, as the nor’easter brought hazardous conditions to the Tri-State area.

Strong winds can make trees and large branches especially dangerous, particularly when saturated ground and weakened trees combine with severe weather.

For the Cypress Hills community, however, the storm will now be remembered for the loss of a worker residents say devoted himself to helping others.

Brown’s family, coworkers and neighbors are now mourning a man they knew not simply as a housing employee, but as someone who regularly showed up when residents needed help.

Have you ever had a community worker who went above and beyond to help your neighborhood? Share your memories and thoughts in the comments below.