Homeless man found dead outside Hempstead building, police say

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death of a homeless man whose body was found outside an apartment building in Hempstead on Monday morning, police said.

Hempstead police Lt. Natisha Robinson said the man, whose identity has not been released, was found outside 100 Terrace Ave. at about 8:50 a.m. She said it was not immediately clear how the man died, but said security video from the building showed that he had fallen, striking his head on the ground, sometime overnight between Sunday and Monday. She said only that the victim is believed to be in his 40s.

She said it was not immediately clear if the man suffered a medical episode, if the incident might have been related to drugs or alcohol or if it was due to the elements — or if it was a combination of factors. Overnight temperatures were in the midteens in the area, the National Weather Service said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”