Man Convicted in Rapper's Killing Sues NYC for $1 Million After Shower Fall

A Bronx man convicted in the 2022 killing of Los Angeles-based rapper Avanti Frowner has filed a lawsuit demanding $1 million from New York City, alleging he suffered serious injuries after slipping in a shower at Rikers Island.

River Jones, who was 18 at the time of Frowner's death, claims he sustained "serious" injuries to his head, neck, and face. The incident allegedly occurred in December 2025 while he was detained at the George R. Vierno Detention Center on Rikers Island. Jones is blaming the city for allegedly failing to place mats in the shower area.

However, medical records included in court filings state that Jones only broke his elbow as a result of the fall. "[He was] presenting with left elbow pain after he slipped and fell in the shower," a physician's note reads. "Denies head trauma or loss of consciousness. Denies other injuries." Jones underwent surgery for the fracture and was discharged without complications, according to the records.

Jones was initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of Frowner, also known as Money Gang Vontae. Police reported that Jones and two other men beat and robbed Frowner before Isaiah Garrett, then 23, shot him. Jones was ultimately convicted of first-degree gang assault. He is currently incarcerated at Gouverneur Correctional Facility in upstate New York and is eligible for parole in 2029, according to state records.

The New York City Correction Department has not commented on the lawsuit, and attorneys for both Jones and the city declined to comment.