The demise of a detainee was declared a murder following the emergence of body camera footage that captured officers assaulting him in handcuffs. The incident took place at the Marcy Correctional Facility in the state of New York, USA, where ten former correctional officers were subsequently charged in connection to the death of detainee Robert Brooks Sr.
Brooks, aged 43, tragically lost his life a day after being relocated from one jail to another in December 2024. His untimely death was deemed a murder after the circulation of body camera recordings showing officials physically assaulting him while he was shackled.
Onandaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who provided a detailed account of the injuries inflicted upon Brooks, stated, ‘Brooks succumbed to severe external and internal body injuries following a brutal assault. The internal injuries were so intense that many of his organs were bruised. His hyoid bone fractured, thyroid cartilage torn, and repeated choking caused significant brain damage. Ultimately, he choked on his own blood.’
In the gravest charges brought forth, Anthony Farina, Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Christopher Walrath, and Matthew Gallagher – all ex-correctional officers – were indicted for second-degree murder, a charge that potentially results in an imprisonment for life. Three other former officers, namely Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher, and David Walters were accused of second-degree manslaughter, while ex-officer Nicholas Gentile was charged with evidence tampering.
The charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering carry maximum sentences of 15 years and 4 years respectively. Another defendant accused of second-degree murder has failed to turn himself in but is due to be arraigned shortly. Furthermore, three other ex-officers have reached plea deals, according to Fitzpatrick. The investigation into potential encroachments by other individuals continues.
Emphasizing the unprovoked nature of the attacks on Brooks, District Attorney Fitzpatrick stated, ‘Brooks was subject to two unprovoked physical assaults leading to his death. Our probing has found no provocation by Brooks that could have resulted in any physical response.’ He further stressed, ‘It might seem natural for one to think that Brooks could have resisted, verbally abused, or insulted the officers, when in truth, he had done nothing to incite such violence.’
Following the charges, Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement sharing her disdain and said, ‘Robert Brooks should be alive today. The shocking assault on him was revolting, leading to my immediate move to terminate the implicated employees. The malefactors have now been rightly charged with murder, and state police are proceeding with arrests.’
Fitzpatrick was appointed special prosecutor for the case after State Attorney General Letitia James excused herself citing a possible conflict of interest, as several officers under scrutiny were legally represented by her office in previous brutality lawsuits. Fitzpatrick’s office had indicated a significant development would be announced before a state judge. However, details were not immediately disclosed.
Body camera footage made public by James’ office showed multiple officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Onondaga County assaulting a handcuffed Brooks on a medical examination table, on December 9, 2024. The footage gave evidence of officers raising Brooks by his neck, and then dropping him. Brooks met his untimely end the following day, and an official ruling by the medical examiner declared his death as a homicide, caused by neck compression and multiple instances of blunt-force trauma.
Robert Brooks Jr., his son, shared in an interview last month with CBS Mornings his deep sorrow and angry demand for justice stating, ‘I want them all to be prosecuted. What they did was murder. They took my father away from me… he doesn’t get to come home.’
Brooks Sr., who had been serving a 12-year sentence for assaulting his child’s mother, had been transferred to the Marcy prison just hours before the vicious assault. Brooks Jr. expressed further sadness and outrage echoing, ‘He committed a crime, he was serving his time. Prison should reform individuals, and that’s not my father’s story. All he got was a death sentence.’
In wake of the tragic incident, the family lodged a civil rights lawsuit alleging that the prison used excessive force in an environment that appeared to encourage violence. Outrage sparked by the incident led Governor Hochul to visit the facility, which is positioned approximately 200 miles northwest of New York City, between the cities of Rome and Utica.
As part of the proposed reform, a new superintendent was installed to manage the prison operations, and a plan to accelerate the allocation of $400 million to roll out surveillance cameras at the facility was announced. Proposals to initiate termination proceedings for over a dozen employees were also shared. The incident led to 15 nurses and two officers being temporarily relieved from duty without pay, pending investigations, with at least one officer opting to quit.