The Legal Aid Society is mourning the loss of Vincent Thoms, who died yesterday at Manhattan Central Booking while waiting to be arraigned on a petty larceny charge.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of Vincent Thoms, who died yesterday in NYPD custody while waiting to be arraigned on allegations that he stole incense from a CVS — a low-level shoplifting charge,” reads a statement from Legal Aid. “He spent his final moments languishing in a jail cell. Mr. Thoms joins at least nine New Yorkers who died in NYPD custody last year, including Christopher Nieves, Musa Cetin, Saniyah Cheatham, Soso Ramishvili, and others.”

Last September, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, elected officials, local community groups, and impacted New Yorkers announced a 10-point plan to address deaths in NYPD custody. Today, Legal Aid is calling on the Mamdani Administration, the City Council, prosecutors, and all actors within the criminal legal system to adopt those reforms.