DOC officer fired after 9th person dies on Rikers Island this year

NEW YORK - A New York City Department of Correction officer has been fired after a person in custody on Rikers Island passed away. 

Elijah Muhammad, 31, died around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night. 

DOC Commissioner Louis Molina says after a preliminary review of the incident, immediate action was taken against the staff, resulting in an officer's termination. 

The cause of Muhammad's death is under investigation. 

It's the 9th death of a person in DOC custody this year.