Who was Robert Brooks: Handcuffed inmate brutally beaten to death by correctional officers; Shocking video
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Law enforcement in New York has released body worn camera footage, showing the final moments of 43-year-old Robert Brooks' life. Brooks, a Black inmate serving a 12-year sentence for assault, was brutally beaten by several prison guards.
The video shows one officer using a shoe to hit Brooks in the stomach, another officer lifting him by the neck and dropping him on a table. The officers then remove his shirt and pants while he lies motionless and bloodied. Brooks was pronounced dead later that night.
New York Attorney General Letitia James released the footage to ensure "transparency and accountability" after Brooks' death. The video is silent because the guards did not turn on the audio on their body cameras.
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In the grainy footage, Brooks is seen lying on a hospital bed, pinned down by several guards. At one point, he is dragged off the bed by his collar, his body limp and bloodied. A preliminary autopsy report confirmed the cause of death as "asphyxia due to compression of the neck," but full results are still pending.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for first degree assault. He had been transferred to Marcy from the nearby Mohawk Correctional Facility on the same day as the incident.
Brooks' family is deeply upset and has expressed outrage and sorrow over the release of the footag. They called the video "devastating" and said watching the "horrific and violent final moments" of Robert's life was painful. They vowed to seek justice for Robert's memory.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the incident, stating, "We have no tolerance for individuals who cross the line, break the law, and engage in unnecessary violence or targeted abuse." She emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated in New York.
The release of this footage comes as the nation continues to deal with issues of police and prison brutality, especially toward Black individuals. The tragic events surrounding George Floyd's death in 2020 sparked national protests demanding racial justice and accountability, and this latest incident is likely to fuel further calls for change.
The video has already become a rallying point for those demanding reforms within the U.S. prison system, and the investigation into Brooks' death is expected to be a focal point for ongoing debates about systemic violence and racial injustice.
