Police could not say Sunday whether his death is believed to be cold related or what he was doing on the roof.
Amid a burst of high-profile targeted violence, authorities have identified a new source of terror.
The fire was one of three that broke out in Nassau County Saturday, including one where a woman was found dead in Plainview.
A neighbor expressed concern for the resident of the apartment, where words could be seen scrawled on the bedroom wall and a mirror.