Victor Mercado, Bronx Prisoner
A Bronx man who was being held at the Rikers Island jail complex passed away on Friday following, his lawyer said, he contracted the coronavirus — the 13th death in custody during an especially deadly year in New York City’s jails.
The man, Victor Mercado had been held on weapons charges since July after not being able to pay the $100,000 bail a Bronx judge set in his case when he fell ill last week, his lawyer, James A. Kilduff said.
Mr. Kilduff said he had asked the judge to lower the bail last month, arguing that his client’s poor health — Mr. Mercado used a wheelchair and was overweight — made him especially susceptible to the virus.
“I explained the family had limited resources, and they left the bail conditions as it was,” Mr. Kilduff said on Friday after learning of Mr...
