New York City authorities made a shocking discovery at an apartment complex in Brooklyn on Thursday. 

A fetus was found in a bag hidden under a pile of leaves at the Bay View Houses in Canarsie, police said. 

The fetus was uncovered at around 11 a.m. in the rear of the building on East 102nd Street between Sea View and Shore Parkway, according to investigators. 

Police initially said it was the body of a newborn, before later stating it was in fact a 5-to-6-month-old fetus that was not carried to term.

Tenants said a building worker made the heartbreaking discovery and reported it to management before calling police. 

One man burst into tears at the scene as the medical examiner was in the process of removing the fetus from the bag. 

Neighbors said they had no idea how this could have happened or who was responsible. 

"The more I find out, this is just, it gets sicker and sicker," Kaitlyn Fernandez said. "Everyone's disgusted, we're all kind of traumatized. It has nothing to do with us but we all live here."

"It's crazy. There's so many places that you can go if you can't, you know, take care of your children," another neighbor said.

A small memorial has been set up where the fetus was found. 

So far, no arrests have been made, police said.