NYCHA worker Leighton Brown killed by tree in Brooklyn nor'easter
Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old New York City Housing Authority employee, died after a tree fell on him in East New York, Brooklyn, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during a powerful nor'easter. The incident occurred near the Cypress Hills Houses complex at Euclid and Dumont Avenues. Brown was transported to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The storm, which brought wind gusts exceeding 55 miles per hour, caused widespread damage across New York City, including coastal flooding in Queens and Long Island. The NYC Parks Department reported receiving hundreds of requests for assistance with downed or damaged trees, primarily in Brooklyn and Queens, and warned that cleanup efforts would continue for days. Officials urged residents to stay home and report hazards via 311 or 911.