A 40-year-old man, Umais Khan, was found unresponsive in bed at the Eric M. Taylor Center at about 10:54 a.m. on May 19. DOC staff attempted CPR until medical staff arrived. He could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 11:21 a.m. The Correction Commissioner said the incident would be investigated. Khan had been arrested on burglary and petty larceny charges. The death was the fourth in 2026 while in DOC custody and the second on Rikers Island within 24 hours. A 41-year-old woman, Rajpattie Ramkellawan, died after a medical emergency at the Rose M. Singer Center. Advocates called for urgent action to close Rikers and reduce low-level arrests through prevention and diversion investments.
"According to Department of Correction sources, 40-year-old Umais Khan, who was imprisoned at the Eric M. Taylor Center, was lying in bed when he was discovered unresponsive at around 10:54 a.m. on May 19. When Khan could not be roused, DOC staff attempted to perform CPR until medical staff arrived. Khan could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 11:21 a.m. Tuesday, according to the DOC."
"I am absolutely devastated that we have lost someone in our care, and this tragedy is felt by every member of service. On behalf of myself and the Department, I share my deepest condolences with his loved ones. This incident will be investigated, Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards said. Khan had been arrested for burglary and petty larceny charges."
"Rajpattie Ramkellawan, 41, suffered a medical emergency while housed at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. She could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 11:10 a.m. As the family of Rajpattie Ramkellawan is still processing the news of her death yesterday, another family now will get the horrific news of their loved one's passing at the hell hole that is Rikers Island, Freedom Agenda's Co-Director Darren Mack said."
"We need every part of city government to be working with urgency toward closing Rikers. That includes passing a budget that makes real and substantial investments in prevention and diversion, including ending the cruel surge of low-level arrests that is funneling more and more vulnerable people through the courts and Rikers. In 2025, 15 people lost their lives while behind bars in New York City jails."
#department-of-correction #rikers-island #in-custody-death #cpr-and-medical-emergency #criminal-justice-reform
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