The body of Reda Briki, a 52-year-old DJ missing for nearly three weeks, was found Sunday in his sailboat moored at Newtown Creek, near the Pulaski Bridge in Long Island City, Queens, New York. A passerby discovered Briki’s body around noon on July 6, 2025, as per police reports.
Briki was last seen on June 14, leaving Maison Harlem, a French restaurant on St. Nicholas Avenue near West 127th Street, where he had performed earlier that day. His disappearance was reported to police on July 3, after friends and fans searched for him using flyers and social media for nearly three weeks.
This discovery is the fourth body found in Newtown Creek over the last two years. The creek borders Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighborhood and is near the Brooklyn Mirage club, where two prior victims were last seen alive.
The initial autopsy performed by the city medical examiner was inconclusive, necessitating further testing to ascertain the cause of death. Police reported no apparent signs of trauma on Briki’s body, and authorities do not currently suspect foul play. Sources estimate he may have died about a week before being found, though friends believe his death occurred in June.
Tim Fielding, a friend of Briki, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Tuesday, noting that Briki had “wild and beautiful energy” and navigated life in a uniquely distinctive way. Just five weeks earlier, Briki had performed at a festival in Devon, where he took attendees on a “deep tribal house journey,” according to Fielding.
Briki, originally from French Algiers, grew up immersed in Parisian club culture. His website biography describes him as an innovator in electronic dance music and co-founder of Love that Fever. Briki’s musical background was influenced by tribal percussion, rhythmic beats, and pulsing grooves, which he seamlessly integrated into his lifelong passion for house music.
With over 18 years of experience, Briki was respected by peers and dance enthusiasts as a leader in the music industry. DJ Behrouz Nasari noted that Briki had an intuitive sense of the dance floor, likening his energy to that of a master chef.
The three previous deaths in Newtown Creek occurred between June 2023 and July 2024. Karl Clemente, a 27-year-old case manager, accidentally drowned in June 2023 after attending an event at Brooklyn Mirage. John Castic, a 27-year-old senior analyst, was also found drowned weeks later after being at the same venue.
In July 2024, Damani Alexander’s body was discovered in the creek after visiting the nearby Knockdown Center. His cause of death remained undetermined even after extensive examination by the city medical examiner.
These incidents have led to online speculation and unfounded fears of a serial killer, but police have not established any connections between Briki’s death and the other cases. The proximity of these incidents to popular nightlife venues has garnered attention.
The investigation into Briki’s death is ongoing, as authorities continue to explore the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and subsequent discovery. Police have not identified any suspects or linked his death to previous fatalities in the creek.
The Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the cause and manner of Briki’s death are pending further analysis. The decomposed state of his body at the time of discovery has necessitated more detailed forensic examination.
