New York Officers Face Murder Charges in Robert Brooks Death

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that multiple corrections officers have been charged with murder following the brutal beating of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9, 2024. Body camera footage captured the officers violently assaulting Brooks while he was handcuffed, resulting in his death from compression of the neck and blunt force injuries just hours later. The officers face charges including murder, manslaughter, and gang assault, with at least five directly involved in the beating. Hochul expressed her outrage, stating that Brooks should still be alive and emphasized the need for accountability in the correctional system. The case is being prosecuted by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick due to a conflict of interest involving the state Attorney General's office. This incident has raised significant concerns about the practices and culture within the New York correctional facilities.