Newly released bodycam footage has shed light on a shocking incident involving New York corrections officers assaulting 43-year-old inmate Robert Brooks, who died the following morning.
The footage, disclosed on Friday by New York Attorney General Letitia James, captured the events leading to Brooks’ death at Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9. Brooks, serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, was pronounced dead the next day. A preliminary autopsy identified the cause of death as “asphyxia due to compression of the neck.”
The silent footage depicts officers repeatedly striking Brooks in the face and groin while he sat handcuffed on a medical table. One officer appeared to force something into Brooks’ mouth before hitting him, while another struck his stomach with a shoe. At one point, an officer lifted Brooks by the neck and slammed him back onto the table.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the incident “outrageous and horrifying,” ordering the immediate dismissal of 13 officers and a prison nurse involved. “The state of New York has zero tolerance for individuals who break the law, and I am committed to holding everyone involved fully accountable,” Hochul stated.
Attorney General James has launched an investigation, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Brooks’ family attorney, Elizabeth Mazur, called the footage evidence of a “horrific and extreme” attack, adding that it underscores a need for systemic reform in prisons.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, including from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which highlighted a broader culture of violence and racial discrimination in correctional facilities. A recent report by the Correctional Association of New York documented similar abuses, including allegations of racial mistreatment by staff.
The case has reignited calls for accountability and reform in the U.S. prison system, particularly in addressing systemic issues of violence against incarcerated individuals.
