(silive.com)
An inmate at Rikers Island died early Sunday morning after being found unwell in his cell marking the 14th death at the jail complex this year, New York City Department of Correction officials said.
Gothamist reported that a guard discovered the man looking “unwell” in his cell at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center at 2 a.m. Medical staff and EMS workers provided aid before transporting him to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m.
The man has not been publicly identified, according to the DOC.
“The Department is mourning the tragic death of an individual in our custody. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family,” NYC Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said.“The safety of everyone in our care is always our foremost concern, and we will fully investigate this tragedy.”
The department notified several agencies of the death, including the Federal Monitor, Board of Correction and State Attorney General’s office, officials said.
This year’s death toll at Rikers or shortly after release from the facility is more than twice the number of deaths recorded last year, according to Gothamist’s tracking of Department of Correction reports.
Scott R. Axelrod is a breaking news reporter for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. He covers a range of topics from crime and trending entertainment news to profiling the borough's most unique residents. He...