A man was found dead near a busy part of Central Park with cuts and injuries to his neck and torso, police said.
The 36-year-old man was found outside on the ground at the Hecksher Playground around 8:30 a.m. Monday by a Central Park Conservancy worker, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene just before 9 a.m., located in the area near Central Drive around 62nd Street in the southernmost portion of the park.
A cause of death was not immediately clear, nor was it known if foul play was suspected. The man had wounds to his stomach, chest and neck area. A bloody knife was found in his pocket, police said.
Law enforcement sources said that it had not yet been determined whether the death was a result of a suicide or a homicide. The man's identity has not been released.
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"At this point in our investigation, we have not made a full determination until the autopsy. However, our theory in the investigation indicates that the injuries could have been self-inflicted," said NYPD Manhattan North Borough Commander Raul Stephenson.
The playground was closed for the rest of the day Monday.
While it was first believed that a shoelace had been found around his neck, police later said it was the string of his hooded sweatshirt that just appeared to be wrapped around his neck.
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No other information was available. An investigation is ongoing.
