An 18-year-old man was charged Tuesday with beating his roommate to death with a hammer inside their luxury Astoria apartment, police said.
The man, Quentin Capobianco, and his 29-year-old roommate, Jesse Smith, apparently had an ongoing argument, police said. The pair may have argued about money before Capobianco allegedly took a hammer and beat Smith on Monday afternoon, causing severe head trauma, police said.
Police arrived to the 21st Street apartment just before 3:30 p.m. and Smith was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.
Capobianco was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use, police said.
Capobianco was awaiting arraignment Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
The Exo apartment building where the pair lived featured a residents’ lounge with billiards, a fitness center, a landscaped sky lounge and furnished rooftop terrace, according to the building’s website.
