Jail Barge Jump Kills NYC Inmate Trying To Escape: Advocates, Report

NEW YORK CITY — A man who jumped five stories from a jail barge and into the East River died hours after his attempt to escape, according to advocates and reports.

Gregory Acevedo, 48, died late Tuesday evening after about seven months in custody, the Daily News reports.

Department of Correction officials didn't respond to a request for more details, but advocates with Campaign Zero confirmed the detainee had died.

Acevedo's death puts the city's jails — notably Rikers Island — on pace to surpass last year's 16 inmate fatalities. Advocates noted the incident also occurred after a federal judge approved a city-crafted plan to address problems at Rikers in June, a potential last chance before a federal takeover.

“The pace of deaths has actually increased since the last hearing," said DeRay McKesson, the executive director for Campaign Zero.

The long-troubled Rikers Island plunged into a full-blown humanitarian crisis in 2021 amid a swirl of problems, from overcrowding to mass absenteeism by overworked jail staff.

Prominent progressive city elected officials such as Public Advocate Jumaane Williams have since said the conditions are no longer "atrocious," but they noted jail deaths remain a significant problem.

Indeed, just days after Williams' visit, an inmate slit his own throat.

The federal judge — Laura Swain — is expected to review progress on the city's jail plan in November. But McKesson, whose group has been demanding a federal takeover, said there's no reason to wait.

"The hearing date should be moved up, and a federal receiver should be appointed immediately," he said in a statement. "This department cannot fix itself.”