Rikers jail inmate, 26, dies in DOC custody

NEW YORK (PIX11) --- A detainee at the Rikers Island jail facility died on Monday, officials said.

Gilberto Garcia, 26, was in custody at the Anna M. Kross Center. Garcia's cause of death remained under investigation on Monday evening.

Garcia, who'd been in custody since Nov. 2 of 2019 on a robbery charge, died around 12:50 p.m., officials aid. The death marks the 16th death in Department of Correction custody this year. Two others died this year shortly after they were granted compassionate release, but the DOC does not count those deaths in their official tally.

“We send our deepest condolences to Mr. Garcia’s loved ones and family at this difficult time," DOC Commissioner Louis A. Molina said. "As with every death that occurs in custody, we will conduct a preliminary investigation into the cause and circumstances.”