Rikers Island jail complex reports second inmate death within days

A person in custody at the Vernon C. Bain Center died on Wednesday after appearing to be in "medical distress," according to the New York City Department of Correction. Stephen Khadu, 34, is the second Rikers Island inmate to die within the last three days, and the eleventh to die in the past year, officials said. 

"I am devastated to see that we have yet another death in custody, and determined to stop this heartbreaking trend," commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said in a statement Wednesday. "We are doing all we can to remedy the unprecedented crisis we are experiencing in our jails. My thoughts and prayers are with the individual's loved ones."

Khadu entered the department of corrections in 2019 on a 2nd degree murder charge, according to the corrections department.