NYC tenant accused of fatally pushing landlord down stairs over rent dispute

According to police, Moncayo was found at the bottom of a staircase, unconscious and bleeding from his head, the television station reported.

Moncayo was taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, WCBS reported.

According to police, the two men argued outside because Garces allegedly refused to pay rent for his Queens apartment to Moncayo, WPIX reported.

"The guy pushed my dad so furiously that my dad flew from front door to the concrete of the sidewalk," Moncayo's daughter, Cristina Moncayo, told WABC.

Moncayo’s grandson, Juan Jose Farfan, said his grandfather had reduced the rent from $400 to $200 a month so Garces could pay it, according to the television station.

Police said they reviewed video that showed Moncayo being shoved from the top of the apartment complex stoop to the sidewalk, WCBS reported.

In the video, a man is shown punching Moncayo, causing the man to fall down eight brick steps, WCBS reported.

In court Tuesday, Garces said he initially told police he was moving a mattress and accidentally knocked his landlord down the stairs, WABC reported.

If convicted, Garces could be sentenced up to 25 years in prison, the television station reported.