A disturbing incident at a New York correctional facility has sparked multiple investigations after bodycam footage revealed the violent death of an inmate.
According to The US Sun, the FBI is now reviewing horrific body camera footage that captured prison guards fatally beating Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old handcuffed inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York.
The footage documents a 30-minute assault where Brooks, who was serving a 12-year sentence for assault, was subjected to brutal treatment while restrained. Multiple officers were recorded punching, kicking, and applying a neck hold to Brooks, leading to his death from asphyxiation at Wynn Hospital in Utica in the early morning hours of December 10.
Violent Attack Captured in Disturbing Detail From Multiple Camera Angles
The incident, recorded from four different guard body cameras, shows Brooks being held down while handcuffed as officers repeatedly struck him in the face and stomped on his stomach. Blood began flowing from Brooks' face during the prolonged assault, which took place in a jail examination room.
Several officers stood by watching as their colleagues continued the abuse. The footage shows one guard lifting Brooks by his neck and forcing him into a chokehold to make him sit up on the examination table.
The final moments of the recording reveal Brooks, stripped to his underwear, appearing unconscious and limp after being forcibly moved between the table and a nearby wall.
State Officials Take Swift Action Against Prison Personnel
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed outrage over the incident and ordered an immediate investigation. She directed state Department of Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello to begin termination proceedings for all 14 officers involved in Brooks' death.
Family attorney Elizabeth Mazur stated: "Mr. Brooks was fatally, violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to keep him safe."
The New York Attorney General Letitia James made the decision to release the footage publicly. During a press conference, James said:
My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Brooks' family. I do not take lightly the release of this video especially in the middle of the holiday season
Thirteen officers have been suspended without pay, while one has already resigned from their position. The state's attorney general's office is conducting an investigation into the officers' use of force against Brooks.
Federal Response and Legal Proceedings Mark Next Phase
The FBI's Albany Field Office, working alongside the Department of Justice, has launched its own review of the circumstances surrounding Brooks' death. The federal investigation will run parallel to the state-level probe already underway.
Brooks' family has advocated for the public release of the footage to demonstrate the extreme nature of the attack. Their decision to support transparency has brought national attention to the case and sparked discussions about prison reform.
Clarifying Sequence of Events and Future Developments
Robert Brooks died on December 10 at Marcy Correctional Facility following a violent confrontation with prison guards that was captured on multiple body cameras. The 43-year-old inmate was serving a 12-year sentence when he encountered the fatal assault that has now triggered investigations by both state and federal authorities. The incident has set in motion a series of administrative and criminal investigations, with 13 officers suspended without pay and termination proceedings initiated against 14 individuals involved in the attack.
