NEW YORK (AP & WXXI News) — A man fatally beaten in a New York prison this month was repeatedly pummeled by correction officers while in handcuffs, struck in the chest by a shoe, then lifted up by the neck and dropped, according to body-worn camera footage released by Friday by the state's attorney general.
Robert Brooks, 43, of the town of Greece, was pronounced dead on Dec. 10, the morning after the assault at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County. At least 14 workers implicated in the attack will face termination, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said she was "outraged and horrified" by videos of the "senseless killing."
The footage made public Friday by the New York Attorney General Letitia James showed correction officers repeatedly punching Brooks in the face and groin as he sits handcuffed on a medical table.
As one of the officers uses a shoe to strike Brooks in the stomach, another yanks him up by his neck and drops him back on the table. The officers then remove the man's shirt and pants as he lies motionless and bloodied on the table.
James said her office was investigating the use of force that led to the death, but did not say whether any of the officers involved in the beating would face criminal charges.
"These videos are shocking and disturbing and I advise all to take appropriate care before choosing to watch them," she said.
An attorney for Brooks did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brooks had been serving a 12-year prison sentence for first-degree assault since 2017, according to the department. He had arrived at the Marcy Correctional Facility only hours before the beating, after being transferred from another nearby state prison, officials said.
In a statement, the president of the New York State Sheriffs' Association, Craig DuMond, said he was "shocked, like all right thinking people, by the actions" of the correctional officers.
"No human being should be treated that way by another human being," he added. "And it is made even worse by the fact that the extreme cruelty was inflicted by those entrusted with the power of government, against those they were entrusted to guard and protect."
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans issued a statement on Friday saying that the "brutal beating of Robert Brooks...was beyond horrific."
Evans said that, "those responsible for this appalling act must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,," and said he expected that "justice will be served expeditiously."
State lawmakers in the Rochester area who are in the Democratic majority also issued a statement that said they are "deeply disturbed and heartbroken" by the revelations surrounding Brooks' death. The delegation said that it will call for a full, independent investigation by relevant agencies "to ensure that those responsible for these heinous actions are held accountable."
State Senator Rob Ortt who represents parts of Niagara County and serves as Republican Minority Leader said in a statement he's "sickened by the brutal and senseless attack" at Marcy Correctional Facility.
"The footage is absolutely appalling, and these violent actions cannot be tolerated," Ortt said. "While this incident will understandably outrage New Yorkers, it’s important to recognize that this horrific event does not reflect the dedicated service of the countless correction officers who risk their lives every day to maintain order and safety in our prisons. Those responsible must be held fully accountable – there is no excuse for this behavior."
