Tragedy Strikes Rikers Island: Detainee's Medical Episode Turns Fatal
A disturbing turn of events unfolded at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island, as 38-year-old inmate Edwin Ramos succumbed to his injuries after a medical episode. The ordeal began early Friday morning when a guard discovered Ramos in distress in a bathroom around 12:05 a.m. Quick action by the guard led to Ramos being rushed to the facility's clinic and subsequently to a nearby hospital.
However, despite efforts to save him, Ramos ultimately lost his battle. His death has sent shockwaves through the correctional community, with officials from the Department of Correction stating that they will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise.
Ramos had been awaiting a plea deal in court on Friday morning, but it was not meant to be. He had been arrested in August on charges related to an attempted burglary in Brooklyn, which occurred in July. The Legal Aid Society, which represented Ramos, has expressed outrage over the manner of his death, with their leader calling it "disgraceful" and "unacceptable."
In a statement, Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie offered condolences to Ramos' loved ones, emphasizing that the care of all detainees is the top priority for the Department of Correction. However, the incident has raised serious questions about the safety and well-being of inmates at Rikers Island.
Ramos' death marks the 13th detainee fatality this year, a number more than double the total for last year, according to Gothamist's tracking. The tragic loss is a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis facing the country's correctional system.
A disturbing turn of events unfolded at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island, as 38-year-old inmate Edwin Ramos succumbed to his injuries after a medical episode. The ordeal began early Friday morning when a guard discovered Ramos in distress in a bathroom around 12:05 a.m. Quick action by the guard led to Ramos being rushed to the facility's clinic and subsequently to a nearby hospital.
However, despite efforts to save him, Ramos ultimately lost his battle. His death has sent shockwaves through the correctional community, with officials from the Department of Correction stating that they will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise.
Ramos had been awaiting a plea deal in court on Friday morning, but it was not meant to be. He had been arrested in August on charges related to an attempted burglary in Brooklyn, which occurred in July. The Legal Aid Society, which represented Ramos, has expressed outrage over the manner of his death, with their leader calling it "disgraceful" and "unacceptable."
In a statement, Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie offered condolences to Ramos' loved ones, emphasizing that the care of all detainees is the top priority for the Department of Correction. However, the incident has raised serious questions about the safety and well-being of inmates at Rikers Island.
Ramos' death marks the 13th detainee fatality this year, a number more than double the total for last year, according to Gothamist's tracking. The tragic loss is a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis facing the country's correctional system.
we need real change and it needs to start now, not just empty apologies from officials. Ramos' family deserves so much better than a quick investigation and condolences. We should be asking why this keeps happening, how are we supposed to reform the system if we don't acknowledge the problems? 
. It's like, what are we even doing here?
another one bites the dust at rikers island 
it's so sad that edwin didn't get a second chance, like what happened to all those other guys this year 
13 detainer fatalities already? that's just too many 
and i feel for his family, they must be going through hell right now 
a diagram of a person falling down 
it's just not right 
it can't be that hard to ensure people get proper medical care when they're in custody 
. I mean, 13 detentions this year alone? That's way too many. And now this poor guy, Edwin Ramos, just drops dead like that? It don't add up, you know? The guard finds him in distress, takes him to the clinic, and still... what's goin' on? Is it cover-up mode? I'm thinkin' some higher-ups might be hidin' somethin', tryin' to keep it under wraps. 
he was just trying to navigate the system and get a chance at a second chance 
it's devastating that his life ended like this in such a tragic way 
the stats are heartbreaking - 13 detainers losing their lives already this year is unacceptable 
can't we do more to support those who need help? 
