Shocking bodycam footage released on Friday reveals the brutal assault of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate at the Marcy Correctional Facility, by correctional officers just hours before his death. The incident, which occurred on December 9, ended with Brooks being declared dead on December 10 at a hospital.
The footage, made public by New York Attorney General Letitia James, shows several officers repeatedly beating the handcuffed prisoner, who was seated on a medical examination table. The officers are seen hitting Brooks in the face and groin, with one officer striking him with a shoe in the stomach and another lifting him by the neck before dropping him back onto the table. At one point, the officers remove his shirt and pants, leaving him motionless.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the incident, expressing her outrage and horror at the footage, which she described as showing a “senseless killing.” Following an internal review, Hochul ordered the firing of 13 officers and a prison nurse for their involvement in the assault.
The bodycam footage, which lacks audio due to the officers not activating their cameras, also shows an officer placing an object inside Brooks’ mouth before striking him again. Although the final post-mortem results are pending, preliminary findings suggest asphyxia due to compression of the neck as the likely cause of death.
Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017. He had only been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility a few hours before the violent altercation. His death has sparked an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office, and the union representing state prison workers has called the footage “incomprehensible.”
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death. The firing of the officers involved is part of ongoing efforts to address the actions that led to his tragic death.
Sources By Agencies
