Six prison guards from Marcy Correctional Facility in New York have been indicted for second-degree murder after beating an inmate, Robert Brooks, who was handcuffed at the time. Four other corrections workers are facing lesser charges related to the incident.
The brutal beating of Brooks was unintentionally captured on body-worn cameras in December, which sparked widespread outrage. Some of the officers appeared in court in handcuffs, where a judge heard their pleas and discussed bond.
The guards charged with second-degree murder include Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, and Mathew Galliher. The identity of the sixth officer has been redacted, as they’ll appear in court separately. All six are also facing first-degree manslaughter charges, which means prosecutors believe they’re responsible for the actions of their colleagues as well.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, the special prosecutor, said he plans to prove in court that the guards thought the cameras were off, raising concerns about a troubling culture among the officers where a group beating of an inmate seemed almost “normal.”
Robert Brooks Jr., the victim’s son, spoke out after the court hearing, saying the system needs to be overhauled and that higher-ups should be held accountable. “These men killed my father, it was on video. The whole world got to see it. Waiting a month for these charges has been incredibly hard. But these men must be prosecuted and convicted,” he said.
As some of the officers were released, emotions ran high in the courtroom, with one person shouting, “This is not justice, judge — These people killed a Black man.” Another woman was removed after yelling “murder, murder.”
The body-camera footage shows the officers attacking Brooks, who was handcuffed, striking him in the chest with a shoe, lifting him by the neck, and dropping him. The video, recorded on December 9, had no sound, but the guards’ actions and their lack of concern were clear. Brooks, 43, died the following day.
An autopsy confirmed that Brooks’ death was caused by neck compression and blunt force injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.
One of the guards, Galliher, faces an additional charge of gang assault, while three others—Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher, and David Walters—are charged with lesser manslaughter offenses. There’s also a worker, Nicolas Gentile, charged with tampering with evidence after allegedly cleaning up Brooks’ blood to cover up the crime.
Gov. Kathy Hochul reacted to the charges, calling the attack “sickening” and announcing the termination of the officers involved. She also stressed the need for reforms within the correctional system, which has faced challenges for years.
In the wake of the charges, some corrections officers across the state have gone on strike, refusing to report for their shifts at several prisons. Hochul has been working on improving safety reforms, including installing more security cameras and strengthening the oversight of corrections officers.
Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for assault when he was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility just hours before the beating. His son, Robert Brooks Jr., filed a federal lawsuit claiming his father’s death was part of a larger issue of unchecked violence in the prison system.
Before Brooks’ death, there had already been reports of abuse at Marcy Correctional, with a watchdog group describing “rampant abuse” by staff. Interviews with incarcerated individuals revealed physical assaults in areas without cameras, like vans and showers, and guards openly threatening new arrivals with violence.
The case was taken over by Fitzpatrick after Attorney General Letitia James recused herself due to her office’s involvement in representing some of the officers in separate lawsuits.
