A disturbing bodycam video released on Friday reveals correctional officers at New York’s Marcy Correctional Facility brutally assaulting Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate, who later died at a hospital. The footage, made public by New York Attorney General Letitia James, depicts the events of December 9, just hours after Brooks’ transfer to the facility. Brooks succumbed to his injuries the following day, prompting outrage and an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the incident as a “senseless killing” and announced the termination of 13 officers and a prison nurse linked to the assault. “I am outraged and horrified by what these videos show,” Hochul stated. Attorney General Letitia James’ office has initiated a probe, while the state prison workers’ union has called the footage “incomprehensible.”
Details of the Assault
In the bodycam footage, officers can be seen striking Brooks in the face, groin, and stomach while he sat handcuffed on a medical examination table. One officer used a shoe to hit Brooks, while another lifted him by the neck and dropped him back onto the table. The video also shows officers removing Brooks’ clothing, leaving him motionless on his back. In another shocking moment, an officer appears to insert an object into Brooks’ mouth before continuing the assault.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
On 12/9, a group of NYS COs brutally beat Robert Brooks. It killed him.
They tried to gag him. Punched, kicked, stomped, choked & slammed him. Beat him with a shoe. Stripped him naked. They laughed & joked.
His hands were cuffed behind his back.
Medical staff watched. pic.twitter.com/vaQ393aQJs
— Dyjuan Tatro (@DyjuanTatro) December 27, 2024
The video, which lacks audio due to officers not activating their body cameras, has ignited public outcry. Preliminary medical findings suggest that Brooks died from asphyxia caused by neck compression, with indications that the death resulted from deliberate actions. Brooks, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017, had only been at Marcy Correctional Facility for a few hours before the incident.
The viral footage has led to widespread calls for justice, with many demanding systemic reform in correctional facilities to prevent such tragedies in the future.
