A man in New York City is believed to have been violently hacked to death with a machete during a Grindr hook-up.

Juan Alonso, 50, has been charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon after police were called to an apartment in the Bronx on Sunday evening.

Alonso’s flatmate had returned home to discover the victim’s naked body and Alonso, machete in hand, standing over him, police say.

The victim, whose name is not yet public, is believed to have met the alleged killer on Grindr.

A police spokesperson said that officials “are investigating whether there was a dispute over not liking certain sex activities and it escalated”.

Alonso has been hospitalised for a psychiatric evaluation, according to reports.

Building superintendent John Gonzalez told the New York Daily News the victim was “cut up” and left “on the floor in pieces”.

He added: “I asked [Alonso] what happened when they were putting him in the squad car.

“He said he was trying to defend himself. He said he was in the bed sleeping — and when he woke up, there was someone was on top of him trying to rape him… he was out of it.”

Gonzalez added: “He was a good guy. I always talked to him. He always was calm. He didn’t look like the type of guy who would do something like that.”