NEW YORK — Robert Brooks, 43, was fatally beaten at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County on December 10th. Body-worn camera footage, released Friday by New York Attorney General Letitia James, reveals a brutal assault by correction officers. The footage shows Brooks, handcuffed on a medical examination table, repeatedly punched in the face and groin. One officer then strikes Brooks in the stomach with a shoe, while another yanks him up by the neck and drops him back onto the table. His shirt and pants are subsequently removed as he lies motionless and bloodied. He was pronounced dead at a hospital the following morning.
Preliminary findings from a medical examination indicate concerns about asphyxia due to neck compression as a possible cause of death, with the death attributed to the actions of others. The final autopsy results are pending. The body cameras lacked audio as they had not been activated by the officers.
Thirteen correction officers and a nurse implicated in the attack will face termination, according to Governor Kathy Hochul, who expressed outrage and horror at the “senseless killing.” Attorney General James stated her office is investigating the use of force but did not specify whether criminal charges will be filed against any of the officers involved. She urged caution before viewing the disturbing footage.
Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017 and had arrived at Marcy Correctional Facility just hours before the assault after a transfer from another prison. The Correctional Association of New York, a prison oversight group, previously documented reports of pervasive brutality and racism at the facility.
Craig DuMond, president of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, expressed shock and condemnation of the officers’ actions, stating that no one should be subjected to such cruelty, especially by those entrusted with their safety and protection. An attorney for Brooks did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The provided text also contains unrelated website promotional material, which has been omitted from this rewrite.