Body-Cam Footage Reveals Brutal Assault on New York Prisoner Robert Brooks Before His Death

 

New York’s Attorney General Letitia James has released body-camera footage capturing the moments leading up to the death of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate allegedly assaulted by correctional officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.

The video, recorded by four of over a dozen officers involved, confirms details of the December 9 incident, where Brooks, who was handcuffed, was subjected to a prolonged beating. The assault left him bloodied and unresponsive, and he died the following morning at a Utica hospital.

Fourteen correctional staff members, including two sergeants, 10 officers, and a nurse, have been suspended as investigations continue. Ryan Paparella, a former correction officer now leading the investigation, said there appeared to be no justification for the attack, which was witnessed by other officers and medical personnel who did not intervene.

The footage shows Brooks, restrained and sitting on an infirmary examination table, being struck repeatedly. At one point, an officer removes Brooks’s shoes and begins hitting him. For nearly 10 minutes, officers punched and stomped on Brooks, who appeared disoriented and offered no resistance.

In a particularly egregious act, an officer stomped on Brooks’s groin area, while another punched him in the chest with a closed fist. Blood can be seen dripping from Brooks’s face as officers continued the assault.

Two male nurses, seen standing in the hallway during much of the incident, eventually entered the room to check Brooks’s vital signs after the beating concluded.

A preliminary medical examiner’s report determined that Brooks suffered multiple fractures and injuries to his neck, head, upper body, and groin. The cause of death was listed as "asphyxia due to compression of the neck."

In releasing the footage, Attorney General James emphasized the importance of transparency. “This video is painful to watch, but it is necessary to provide accountability and answers for the Brooks family and all New Yorkers,” she said.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) condemned the incident as a reflection of systemic issues within the corrections system. “This tragic death underscores a culture of violence and a lack of accountability among correctional officers,” the NYCLU said in a statement. “Robert Brooks’s family and all New Yorkers deserve justice and reform.”

The release of the video is expected to ignite protests and intensify demands for comprehensive reforms within the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). Advocates have called for stronger oversight of correctional facilities and measures to ensure the safety of incarcerated individuals.

Brooks’s death has become a grim reminder of the risks faced by those in custody and the urgent need for systemic change in how correctional facilities are managed and monitored.