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More information has surfaced about the deadly assault of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. According to a document filed with the Oneida County Clerk, Brooks was beaten by several corrections officers in the Infirmary Building earlier this month. The incident, captured on body-worn cameras, shows officers striking Brooks multiple times while he was handcuffed and later manacled.
Brooks, 43, was transported to Wynn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on December 10. Preliminary findings from an autopsy conducted by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office suggest asphyxia due to neck compression as the cause of death. The final results are pending.
Governor Kathy Hochul has called for the dismissal of 14 correctional staff members involved in the incident, including a nurse. Syracuse.com reports that the state Attorney General's Office plans to release the body camera footage soon. The footage is expected to be graphic, and state officials are concerned about potential public backlash.
The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association has condemned the actions of the officers involved, stating that the incident undermines the integrity of their profession. The death of Brooks, who was serving a 12-year sentence for a 2016 assault, is under investigation by multiple agencies, including the state Attorney General's Office and the State Police.