A horrifying video released by the New York Attorney General’s Office has sparked outrage, showing a brutal attack on 43-year-old Robert Brooks by correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility. The December 9, 2024, incident, captured on body-worn cameras, reveals a shocking display of abuse as officers repeatedly beat Brooks, a Black man, while he was handcuffed.
In the footage, officers punch Brooks in the face and groin while he sits defenseless on a medical examination table. One officer strikes him in the stomach with a shoe, while another violently lifts him by the neck and drops him back onto the table. The assault continues as the officers strip Brooks of his shirt and pants, leaving him bloodied and motionless.
The violence has drawn condemnation from leaders and the public. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her outrage, calling the beating a “senseless killing.”
“I am outraged and horrified by what I’ve seen,” Hochul stated, confirming that 13 correctional officers and a nurse involved in the attack will face termination.
New York Attorney General Letitia James also condemned the abuse, urging viewers to exercise caution before watching the deeply disturbing footage. James confirmed that her office is leading an investigation into the excessive use of force, but stopped short of confirming whether the officers would face criminal charges.
***GRAPHIC VIDEO*** (VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED)
Investigation Underway
Preliminary medical findings suggest asphyxia due to compression of the neck as a potential cause of death, compounded by other injuries inflicted during the assault. Robert Brooks was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital the morning after the assault, according to NBC New York.
The lack of audio in the footage, due to officers failing to activate their body cameras, the outlet reported. Which has raised further questions about accountability in the New York Prison System.
This is horrible and they will all be acquitted on some bs and set free and we still dying at there hands.