Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Bretford Brewer was indicted for murder, weapon possession and public lewdness for the fatal stabbing of 36-year-old Carlos Penzo in the victim’s Long Island City apartment in August. Penzo was found in his bathtub with multiple stab wounds and a large knife on his stomach. Brewer was apprehended unclothed outside the apartment.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this defendant violently attacked Carlos Penzo and stabbed him multiple times in his own apartment. After killing the victim, Bretford Brewer went to a stairwell landing leading to the roof and then returned naked to the same floor as Penzo’s apartment, where he was detained by a brave building staffer until police arrived.  A grand jury has now indicted Bretford Brewer for murder and other charges as we seek to ensure justice for the victim and his loved ones.”

Brewer, 36, of Brooklyn was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and public lewdness.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant continued remand and ordered him to return to court December 11. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison, if convicted.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on July 31, at approximately 8 p.m., Carlos Penzo arrived at the lobby of his residence, a 50-story building located at 43-25 Hunter Street in Long Island City, and went up to his fourth-floor apartment.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., Brewer arrived at the building, told a witness he was there to see Penzo and took the elevator to the victim’s apartment.

At approximately 10 a.m., the victim called 911 and provided his address, but no apartment number, before the line went silent.

At 12:27 p.m., Brewer, clad only in underwear, ascended an interior staircase of the building to a landing leading to the roof. He removed his underwear and sprayed a security camera with a fire extinguisher, which set off fire alarms and drew attention from building staff who called the fire department.

Brewer went to the 47^th floor, then took the elevator back to the victim’s fourth-floor apartment where he was still completely undressed and attempted to enter Penzo’s apartment. He was confronted by a member of the building’s staff who detained him until police arrived.

Police entered Penzo’s apartment and found it in disarray, with blood splattered in the bedroom, kitchen and on the handle of the front door. A kitchen knife with a broken handle was found on the bed and another large kitchen knife was found in the kitchen sink.

Penzo was discovered in the bathtub in a seated position with multiple stab wounds to his face, neck and torso. There was a large kitchen knife on top of his stomach.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Ryan Mooney of the 108^th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Carmine Caruso of the Queens North Homicide Squad.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Kanella Georgopoulos of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Angel Semerdzhiev under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Chief Assistant District Attorney Shawn Clark.