Six New York prison guards have been indicted for second-degree murder in the beating death of a handcuffed inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility. The incident, captured on body-worn cameras, sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Four other corrections workers faced lesser charges in the December death of Robert Brooks, who was handcuffed at the time of the fatal beating. The special prosecutor, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, expressed concern over the 'sense of normalcy' displayed by the employees in the video footage.
The guards, including Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, and Mathew Galliher, were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. The sixth person's name was redacted pending their court appearance.
Robert Brooks, 43, died after being beaten multiple times upon his arrival at the prison, with the final fatal beating occurring in the infirmary. The body-camera footage showed officers striking Brooks, lifting him by the neck, and dropping him while his hands were cuffed behind his back.
Brooks suffered a 'massive beating' that resulted in a broken neck bone, thyroid cartilage damage, and internal organ bruising. He also experienced brain damage and asphyxiation from repeated airway restrictions.
The indictments were seen as a step towards accountability by Brooks' son, Robert Brooks Jr., who filed a federal lawsuit alleging that his father was beaten to death in a systemic manner. The charges extended responsibility to those directly involved in the beating, as well as those who witnessed or were aware of the incident.
In addition to the murder charges, some corrections officers faced gang assault and manslaughter charges, while another worker was charged with tampering with evidence by cleaning blood stains at the scene.
State officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, took action to terminate over a dozen employees implicated in the attack on Brooks. The charges were announced amidst a wildcat strike by corrections officers across 36 facilities in the state.
Prior to Brooks' death, allegations of abuse by prison staff at Marcy Correctional Facility had surfaced, prompting calls for transparency and accountability within the corrections system.
