NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – A man died after guards found him looking unwell in his Rikers Island cell, in New York, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections.
The medical emergency happened around 2 a.m. at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Sunday morning, according to the department. He was taken to an area hospital, where he died shortly after.
There have been at least 14 in-custody deaths in New York City this year. Another man, 38-year-old Edwin Ramos, died at Rikers Island just three weeks before.
“The Department is mourning the tragic death of an individual in our custody. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family. The safety of everyone in our care is always our foremost concern, and we will fully investigate this tragedy,” said NYC Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.
The city is currently behind schedule on a plan to close Rikers Island and replace it with four new, smaller jails. A few years ago, the city passed a law to close the jail by 2027, something Mayor Eric Adams has said won’t happen.
The New York City Council is expected to conduct an oversight visit at Rikers Island this week.