Rikers Island inmate Clarence Woodward dies in medical emergency

Clarence Woodward, an inmate at Rikers Island, died on Tuesday following a medical emergency at the Robert N. Davoren Center. This marks the seventh inmate death at the facility this year.

Woodward, 41, had been arrested on August 8, 2024, and faced charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and assault. He was accused of an unprovoked attack at a Bronx laundromat that resulted in the death of Jose Miranda.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed sadness over the death while noting that the cause of death is not yet known. Mamdani stated that the Department of Correction and oversight partners will investigate the circumstances. The Mayor also reiterated his administration's commitment to improving jail conditions and closing Rikers Island as quickly as possible.