A 35-year-old Melrose woman died early Monday morning after EMS found her with severe trauma to her head, face, and body inside her apartment building at 370 East 158th Street, police said. Jasmine Chisholm had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition the evening before, but she did not survive.
EMS responded to the Melrose address just before 6:30 p.m. on Sunday after a 911 caller reported a woman in need of assistance, according to amNewYork. Chisholm, who lived in the building, was found with trauma to her head, face, and body and was transported to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition. She died early Monday morning, the outlet reported.
The 40th Precinct received the initial report of the incident and has continued investigating since, per the same account. Police said no arrests had been made as of the latest update, and Chisholm's body was transferred to the medical examiner's office, which has planned an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Trauma Center Nearby, But Cause of Death Still Pending
Chisholm was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, a New York State-designated Level 1 Trauma Center that handles more than 140,000 emergency department visits a year and serves as the primary municipal trauma facility for the South Bronx and the 40th Precinct, according to NYC Health + Hospitals.
A final determination on how Chisholm died could still be weeks away. The NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner routinely performs autopsies in cases of unnatural or sudden death and issues temporary death certificates marked “pending further studies” when additional toxicology, tissue analysis, or police evidence is needed to finalize a cause and manner of death, the agency explains.
Should the autopsy confirm the trauma resulted from intentional violence, prosecutors would weigh statutory options under New York law. Causing death through conduct demonstrating intent, or through depraved indifference to human life, can be charged as second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony carrying up to life in prison, according to the New York State Unified Court System.
A Building With Dozens of Open Violations
The building at 370 East 158th Street had 32 open, unresolved hazardous violations as of September, according to records compiled by AptRight.
The building sits in Melrose.
Citywide Crime Trends
A midyear analysis from Vital City found major crime across New York City fell 5.6% and murders dropped 21% in the first half of the year, even as felony assaults rose citywide for a sixth consecutive year. Murders and shooting incidents remain the only major crime categories in the city currently below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Part of a Pattern of Violence in the Precinct
Chisholm's death adds to a string of violent incidents Hoodline has covered within the 40th Precinct in recent months, including a manhunt after a man was slashed at St. Mary's Park. In March 2025, a man was found dead with severe head trauma at a Bronx homeless shelter within the same precinct.
It remains unknown whether investigators have identified a domestic or acquaintance connection to the apartment, or whether surveillance footage from the building or surrounding streets has been recovered to trace a suspect. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.
