OGDENSBURG, NY — An inmate who was assaulted at Riverview Correctional Facility has died, and an autopsy has ruled his death a homicide, according to New York State Police.
Lawrence Brown, 34, died April 10 at SUNY Upstate Medical Center from injuries sustained during an altercation April 7 at the correctional facility.
State police responded to the facility at approximately 11 a.m. April 7 for a reported assault.
An investigation determined that two incarcerated individuals were involved in a physical altercation in their dorm area.
The individuals were identified as Ollie Jackson, 29, and Brown.
Investigators determined that Jackson struck Brown in the face with a closed fist, causing Brown to lose his footing and fall.
Brown subsequently struck his head on an unknown object.
Emergency Medical Services transported Brown to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.
He was later transferred to SUNY Upstate Medical Center, where he was placed on a ventilator due to a significant brain bleed and remained unresponsive.
An autopsy was conducted April 15 at the Onondaga Medical Examiner’s Office in Syracuse by M.D. Katya Merkulva.
The autopsy determined the cause of death to be traumatic brain injury due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Merkulva ruled the manner of death a homicide.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
