Rikers Inmate Dies In First NYC Jail Death Of 2024
Chima Williams, 43, collapsed while playing basketball Thursday, officials said. A Rikers Island inmate, William Williams, has died in 2024, becoming the first death in the city's jail system. Williams collapsed while playing basketball with other detainees at Rikers' Eric M. Taylor Center. This is the 29th death of a person behind bars in the system since Mayor Eric Adams took office. Advocates with Freedom Agenda argued that the death shows the need to close Rikers. They urged the Mayor to invest in housing, mental health treatment, and other services to support people in need.
Publié : Il ya 4 mois par Matt Troutman dans Sports
NEW YORK CITY — A Rikers Island inmate who collapsed while playing basketball became 2024's first death in the city's jail system, officials said.
"On behalf of the New York City Department of Correction, we extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Williams' loved ones," said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, in a statement.
Williams had been playing basketball for about an hour with other detainees in Rikers' Eric M. Taylor Center when he collapsed about 9:45 a.m., officials said.
Williams is the 29th death of a person behind bars in the city's jail system since Mayor Eric Adams took office.
Advocates with Freedom Agenda quickly responded to the death, noting it was just four days in the new year. They argued it showed the need to close Rikers.
"This shameful tragedy makes the stakes even more clear – we need to stop sending people to Rikers to die right now," said Darren Mack, co-director for Freedom Agenda, in a statement. "We need the Mayor to make real, substantial investments in housing, mental health treatment, and other services to support people in our communities."