Bodycam footage shows US police beating, killing Black inmate
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Bodycam footage released from the New York State Department of Corrections shows police officers assaulting an inmate, who died the very next day.
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This image provided by the New York State Attorney General's office shows bodycam footage of correction officers beating a handcuffed man, Robert Brooks, 43, at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, N.Y., on December 9, 2024 (AP).
Footage released on Friday, December 27, shows correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York repeatedly assaulting Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old African-American inmate who was handcuffed at the time of the attack and died the day after.
The violent incident, which occurred on December 9, has prompted an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James and widespread condemnation from state officials and advocacy groups.
Brooks, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, had arrived at Marcy Correctional Facility just hours before the assault. The footage depicts officers punching him in the face and groin as he sat handcuffed on a medical examination table.
One officer used a shoe to strike Brooks in the stomach, while another yanked him by the neck and dropped him back onto the table. Afterward, officers removed Brooks’ shirt and pants as he lay motionless and bloodied.
Preliminary medical findings indicate "concern for asphyxia due to compression of the neck" as a cause of death, with court filings describing the incident as a "homicide due to the actions of another."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed outrage, announcing the termination of 13 correctional officers and a nurse implicated in the attack. "These videos are shocking and disturbing," said Hochul.
Attorney General Letitia James echoed the sentiment, advising caution for viewers of the footage and confirming an investigation into the use of force. However, no details on potential criminal charges have been disclosed.
Elizabeth Mazur, a lawyer for Brooks’ family, described the footage as a display of "horrific and extreme" violence. "Mr. Brooks deserved to live, and everyone else living in Marcy Correctional Facility deserves to know they do not have to live in fear of violence at the hands of prison staff," Mazur stated.
The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association condemned the actions depicted in the footage, calling them "incomprehensible" and unreflective of the professionalism of their broader membership.
Advocacy groups have long criticized the Marcy Correctional Facility. The Correctional Association of New York previously documented allegations of pervasive brutality and racism during a monitoring visit two years ago.
Tina Luongo of The Legal Aid Society demanded "complete transparency" regarding staff use of force and emphasized the need for accountability. "What we see in this video is a grotesque display of inhumanity," Luongo said, highlighting the broader issue of hidden violence within prison walls.
