Metro

Man killed in Queens fire was may have been beaten before blaze

A 63-year-old man appeared to have been badly beaten before he was pulled from a suspicious Flushing blaze and pronounced dead Friday, authorities said.

The man was found seated on a couch in his basement apartment at the scorched, four-story apartment building on 159th Street near 43rd Avenue around 6 a.m., according to authorities.

He was rushed to Queens Booth Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, cops said. The fire was placed under control around 6:35 a.m., authorities said.

His identity was not released pending family notification. Authorities are investigating.