A Rikers Island inmate died Saturday morning, the Department of Correction said, marking the first city jails-related death of the year.
The individual died just after 6 a.m. on Saturday. The cause of death is under investigation, Louis Molina, the commissioner of the city's Department of Correction, said.
"Any death in custody is a tragedy. We sincerely send our deepest condolences and sympathy to this individual's family and loved ones," Molina said in a statement Saturday morning.
Attorney Javier Damien told NY1 that his client, Marvin Pines, was the person who died at Rikers Island Saturday morning. Damien said Pines was 65 years old and was awaiting sentencing.
Damien, who told NY1 that he does not plan to send out a formal written statement at this time, added that he does not know if medical care played a factor in Pines' death.
There were 19 Rikers-related deaths in 2022. That number includes inmates who were released from custody right before their deaths.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the number of Rikers-related deaths in 2022.