Lawyer dies after being beaten with hammer in upscale apartment; roommate is charged with murder
A 29-year-old personal injury lawyer died after being beaten with a hammer at his upscale New York City apartment, police said, and his roommate has been charged in the slaying.
Jesse Smith, 29, was found with severe head injuries Monday afternoon in the apartment he and 18-year-old Quentin Capobianco shared at a Queens building where one-bedroom apartments rent for $2,750 a month, according to am New York, DNA Info and Gothamist.
Smith got his legal education at Hofstra University and worked for Morton Povman. Smith’s father told Newsday that his son had hired Capobianco to work for his law practice.
Capobianco, who has no criminal record, was arrested at the apartment and charged with second-degree murder and criminal weapon possession. A shotgun reportedly was found at the apartment.
Updated Jan. 15 to include information from Newsday.
