A 52-year-old Brooklyn man died after being fatally struck during an altercation with a stranger in East New York on Thursday evening, according to police and family members. The victim, identified as Kemal Karakatal, was reportedly punched in the face following an argument about the stranger’s disrespectful remarks toward Karakatal’s wife.

The incident took place at approximately 8:20 p.m. near the intersection of Pitkin and Van Siclen Avenues. Karakatal, a chef employed on Staten Island, had just returned home and exited his vehicle when he confronted a man who had verbally harassed his wife while she was walking their dog nearby.

“My stepfather’s not a violent man. It’s not his character. He don’t like to fight or argue,” said Karakatal’s 31-year-old stepson, who requested anonymity. The altercation escalated when Karakatal intervened, telling the man, “You shouldn’t talk to a woman like that,” which led to a physical confrontation.

During the exchange, the assailant, described as wearing a white shirt and shorts, with white socks and black Crocs, struck Karakatal in the face. The blow caused him to fall to the concrete pavement. Witnesses and family members recounted seeing Karakatal struggling for his life at the scene before emergency medical personnel transported him to Brookdale University Hospital, where he later died.

Authorities have classified the death as a homicide and are actively investigating. The attacker fled the scene on foot and has not yet been apprehended. Karakatal’s wife attempted to record the suspect while pursuing him for several blocks but was unable to catch him, expressing fear during the pursuit.

Karakatal resided in NYCHA’s Florentino Plaza housing complex, located roughly half a block from where the incident occurred. Born in Turkey, he had been married to his wife for four years. Relatives described him as a devoted family man who loved cooking and cared deeply for his step-grandchildren.

Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to assist in identifying and locating the suspect. The case emerges amid a reported 9% reduction in crime within New York City Housing Authority properties, with 2,659 crimes recorded through June 2026, down from 2,905 during the same period in 2025.

Family members expressed profound grief and shock over Karakatal’s death. “The way he died, he didn’t deserve that,” his stepson said. Police continue to seek public assistance in solving the case.