A disturbing video has emerged showing corrections officers punching and kicking a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, leading to his death at a prison in central New York this month.
The footage, captured by body cameras worn by four officers, was released on Friday by New York Attorney General Letitia James as part of her office’s investigation into the incident.
The videos show one officer kicking Brooks, whose face is bloodied, and forcing him onto an examination table while another officer punches him. James described the videos as “shocking and disturbing,” emphasizing her duty to provide transparency and accountability to the Brooks family and the public.
The investigation could lead to criminal charges against some or all of the officers involved, with additional inquiries by the State Police and the corrections department’s Office of Special Investigations.
Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old Black man, was allegedly assaulted by white officers. The footage shows the officers repeatedly punching and kicking Brooks while he is restrained on an examination table, with his hands cuffed behind his back. At one point, two officers drag him across the room, pressing him against a window, before lifting his limp body into the air.
Later, Brooks is seen motionless on the table, bleeding, as medical personnel stand by. The footage does not show Brooks provoking the attack in any way. Several officers appear to be the main aggressors, while others walk in and out of the room, doing nothing to stop the violence.
Brooks was declared dead at a hospital on December 10, and an autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death. Preliminary findings suggest asphyxia due to neck compression may have contributed to his death. The investigation is ongoing.
The incident was first reported on December 15, when the state’s corrections commissioner revealed that an inmate had died following a “use of force” by staff members at the Marcy Correctional Facility. Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault.
Thirteen officers and a nurse have been placed on administrative leave as investigations continue. Attorneys for Brooks’ family have condemned the violent attack, calling it a tragic and preventable death. They emphasized that Brooks deserved to live, and that the public must see the extreme nature of the assault.
“Robert Brooks was fatally, violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to protect him,” said Elizabeth Mazur, the family’s attorney. “Everyone at Marcy Correctional Facility deserves to know they are not at risk of violence at the hands of prison staff.”
