Photo courtesy of a representative of the family of Saniyah Cheatham
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has mourned the tragic and untimely death of a young Bronx Community College student from Belmont who it’s been reported has died by suicide in police custody in the Longwood section of the South Bronx.
Police said that on Saturday, July 5, at around 00.40 a.m. police requested EMS to respond to the 41st Precinct stationhouse located at 1035 Longwood Avenue in the South Bronx “for an 18-year-old, unconscious, female prisoner.” The 41st Precinct serves Hunts Point and Longwood.
Police said multiple officers performed CPR on the 18-year-old, later named as Saniyah Cheatham of Prospect Avenue in Belmont, while awaiting EMS response. The spokesperson said that EMS transported Saniyah to Lincoln Hospital where she was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. “The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating this incident at this time,” police said.
A friend of Saniyah’s posted the following message on social media on July 6, along with several images of her friend, “Hey everyone I usually don’t post my personal business but this is Saniyah Cheatham. She was born March 6, 2007. Saniyah was my first love. she was a best friend. Saniyah was a sister. Saniyah was a daughter. Saniyah was a friend and way more.”
Photo courtesy of a representative of the family of Saniyah Cheatham
She continued, “On July 4th, 2025, Saniyah was arrested and placed in booking at the 41st precinct. Saniyah was then found unconscious under the police supervision. Saniyah was then rush to Lincoln Hospital where she couldn’t be saved. They police aren’t giving no declining to state why she was place under arrest and cited an ongoing investigation being done by the NYPD’s Force [Investigation] Division. Please Share and help get justice for Saniyah. 
#justiceforsaniyah”
On Monday, July 14, Gibson spoke on the tragedy, saying, “Our community is devastated and in absolute mourning over the tragic death of 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham while in police custody in our borough. We are standing with the family during this painful time and demanding full accountability and transparency.”
She continued, “At a time when we continue to work to build trust and partnership with the NYPD, we must also ensure that this family’s pain and trauma is acknowledged as they seek answers and justice for Saniyah. The NYPD’s Force Investigations Unit is overseeing the investigation, and we will be monitoring the situation as more information is made available.”
She concluded, “As the Cheatham family seeks a clear and honest account of what happened to their loved one, we ask that everyone continue to keep them in your prayers.”
CBS News reported that the Cheatham family say they do not believe Saniyah died by suicide and want police to release surveillance video.
Photo courtesy of a representative of the family of Saniyah Cheatham
Among other questions, Norwood News asked the NYPD what Saniyah had been arrested for, if it had been her first arrest, if there had been any physical altercation with police or anyone else in the lead up to her arrest, if she had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of her arrest and if so, to what extent she appeared unstable, if unstable e.g. unable to stand.
We also asked if Saniyah had asked for any medical or any other type of assistance at any stage during the course of her arrest, if she had been left in a cell on her own, how long she had been in custody prior to the 911 call being placed for EMS to respond, and if she had been examined by a doctor at any stage during her encounter with the police.
An NYPD spokesperson replied saying the incident is currently under review by the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division. They confirmed Saniyah had been arrested in regard to an assault. We asked for further details and will share any updates we receive.
During a press conference held earlier on Monday, July 14, outside the 41st Precinct, Ben Crump, a trial lawyer and civil rights advocate, announced that he would be representing Saniyah’s mother, Thomasina Cheatham. He called for accountability and answers from the NYPD about how the tragedy occurred.
Photo by Síle Moloney
A reporter asked Crump what police had told him about why Saniyah was arrested. Crump responded, “As we understand it and we don’t want to speculate…..they know the answers. They haven’t put out a preliminary report….. they haven’t put out preliminary findings of the autopsy… and as Donna and everybody said.. Tanisha.. they haven’t released the video.”
The female reporter again asked, “Why was she arrested?” Appearing agitated, Crump responded, “Why do we have to play this game where they attack the victim, who is dead? They are the police! They got the answers! They got the video! They got the autopsy! Why she was arrested? They say she was in an altercation with another teenager. That’s what she said. She was in an altercation with another teenager.
In a press release prior to the press conference, Crump said the NYPD alleged Saniyah took her own life, but that her family is demanding full transparency, including the immediate release of all video, including surveillance video from inside the 41st Precinct. He added that Saniyah was preparing to start her next semester at Bronx Community College.
“Saniyah Cheatham was an 18-year-old with her whole life ahead of her,” Crump said. “I commend her mother, Thomasina, for her courage in standing up to demand the truth. How could this happen to a young woman in police custody? Why wasn’t her safety ensured by those charged with her care? No mother should be left in the dark after her child dies in police custody. We demand full transparency and accountability for this grieving family.”
In 2023, Norwood News had reported on the death of Justin “Gusto” Gidora, 36, from Woodlawn Heights, who died under mysterious circumstances after he was also in police custody.
Flier courtesy of a representative of the family of Saniyah Cheatham
EMS officials said they got a call at 9:50 p.m. on July 6, 2023 and that paramedics were sent to Bronx Central Booking inside Bronx Criminal Court at East 161st Street after Gidora suffered a “major injury.” According to friends of Gidora, he was taken off life support at Lincoln Hospital and died on July 13.
Norwood News followed up with the Office of the City’s Medical Examiner which confirmed the cause of death was indeed suicide.
Health officials say if you have had thoughts of suicide, it might help to create or update a suicide safety plan. They said this plan will provide you with a list of steps you can follow to feel safe if you think about harming yourself. They said if you do not have a suicide safety plan, you can use this Safety Plan Template (PDF) as a guide.
They said you can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs and said the risk of suicide is greater if a behavior is new, has increased, and seems related to a painful event, loss or change.
They said the following signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped, a burden or in unbearable pain.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious, agitated or behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
- Giving away possessions.
- Saying goodbye to family and friends.
Call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Help is available in English and Spanish 24 hours a day.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.