A Rikers Island inmate died Friday evening, the Department of Correction said, marking the second city jails-related death of the year.
The individual, identified Saturday night as Manuel Luna, 30, was found unresponsive in his George R. Vierno Center cell by correction staff Friday just before 9 p.m.
Medical personnel was called and provided aid, but Luna was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived. The cause of death is under investigation, the correction department said in a statement.
Luna is the second Rikers inmate to die in the first 19 days of the new year. Chima Williams, 43, died after collapsing while playing basketball with a group of inmates on Jan. 4, according to the department.
Nine inmates died in city jails last year. There were 19 city jails-related deaths in 2022, which includes inmates who were released from custody right before their deaths.