The FBI Albany Field Office is currently investigating the disturbing death of Robert Brooks, an inmate at the Marcy Correctional Facility in New York, following a violent assault by correctional officers. This investigation was prompted by shocking body-worn camera footage, released by the New York Attorney General's Office, showing Brooks being brutally beaten while handcuffed on December 9th, shortly after his transfer from the nearby Mohawk Correctional Facility (HuffPost).

In the recorded footage, correctional officers are seen punching and kicking Brooks multiple times in various parts of his body, including his face and groin. Eyewitness accounts and statements from officials reveal that officers employed excessive force, with one officer reportedly using a shoe to strike Brooks and another appearing to choke him (ABC News). The Attorney General Letitia James confirmed that Brooks was pronounced dead at a hospital just one day after the assault, on December 10.

Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her outrage, stating, "I was outraged and horrified after seeing footage of the senseless killing of Robert Brooks." Hochul has ordered the termination of 14 personnel involved in the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability (The Hill). Her sentiments were echoed by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, denouncing the brutality shown in the incident.

The Attorney General's office has stated that the investigation involves reviewing the actions of the correctional officers and determining the appropriate response to the use of force that led to Brooks' death. There are also calls for institutional changes in the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to prevent future occurrences of such violence (CNN).

Elizabeth Mazur, an attorney representing Brooks' family, highlighted the horror of the attack, asserting, "Mr. Brooks was fatally, violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to keep him safe" (Salon). She further criticized the culture within correctional facilities that enables such violence.

Details emerging from the ongoing investigation indicate that preliminary autopsy findings suggest Brooks' death may have been a result of asphyxia due to neck compression. This raises serious concerns regarding the treatment of inmates in New York's correctional system (HuffPost).

Rights advocates and legal experts have called for greater transparency and accountability in the correctional system, highlighting this incident as symptomatic of larger systemic issues that foster violence within prisons. They insist that mere firings are insufficient, advocating for comprehensive reforms to ensure the safety of all inmates in state facilities (ABC News).

As the investigation continues, this case has ignited widespread calls for change, revealing the urgent need to address the treatment of inmates in correctional facilities throughout New York State and beyond.

For further details, you can read the original articles from The Hill, ABC News, CNN, Salon, and HuffPost.