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Beating death of NY state prisoner ruled a homicide, attorney says
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Feb 5, 2025
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Body worn camera footage released by the NY Attorney General
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Feb 5, 2025
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The death of Robert Brooks, a prisoner beaten by staff at Marcy Correctional Facility in December, has been ruled a homicide, according to attorneys representing his family.
An autopsy by the Onondaga County medical examiner’s office determined Brooks died from “compression of the neck and multiple blunt force injuries,” attorneys Elizabeth Mazur and Steve Schwarz said. The ruling follows the release of disturbing video footage showing as many as eight prison staffers repeatedly striking Brooks while he was handcuffed — an incident that sparked outrage among state officials and renewed scrutiny of conditions at the Oneida County prison, located about 200 miles northwest of New York City.
The fallout from Brooks’ death has already prompted changes at Marcy Correctional Facility. Gov. Kathy Hochul replaced the prison’s leadership and introduced measures aimed at increasing oversight and accountability in the state’s correctional system.
Last month, state Attorney General Letitia James recused her office from investigating Brooks’ death, citing an internal conflict.
Mazur shared a statement from Brooks’ family with Gothamist on Wednesday, saying the autopsy report “confirms what was already clear.”
“We look forward to the prosecution of those responsible," the statement reads. "In the meantime, we are pushing forward with our fight for justice for Mr. Brooks and his family."
Hochul reiterated her call for criminal charges and arrests after the medical examiner's findings.
“Those responsible for Mr. Brooks’ death must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I recognize the need to build an airtight prosecution to ensure those individuals are brought to justice. This reprehensible act of violence demands the full force of our justice system — the family of Mr. Brooks deserves no further delays,” Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Onondaga County medical examiner’s office declined to share the autopsy report, citing medical confidentiality laws for cases under active investigation.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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public safety
new york state
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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