Law enforcement in New York has released devastating body-worn camera footage from the night of December 9 that has shocked the government, capturing the last moments of 43-year-old Robert Brooks ‘ life. A black prisoner serving a 12-year word for assault in a northern New York captivity was brutally beaten by numerous prison guards.
One of the officers yanked Brooks up by his chest and dropped him back on the table, according to the cold video, who used a shoe to hit him in the stomach. The soldiers then remove the boy’s shirt and pants as he sat still and bleeding on the table.
Painfully, Brooks was pronounced deceased later that night.
Watch the whole footage below-
The footage, though harrowing, was released by New York Attorney General Letitia James to ensure “transparency and accountability” in the aftermath of Brooks’ death. The video, however, was shockingly silent. According to James, the figure cameras were activated, but the guards did not turn on the music, leaving the saving oddly motionless during the harsh fight.
In the thick, passive images, Brooks can be seen lying on a medical bed, pinned down by several soldiers. At one point, he is dragged off the sleep by his neck, his body limp and bruised. Although total effects are still pending, a preliminary autopsy report determined that the cause of death was “asphyxia according to compaction of the neck.”
” Hunting instant of Brooks being dragged from the sleep”
Brooks was serving a 12-year word for first-degree assault, according to the Associated Press. On the same day as the incident, he had been transferred to Marcy from the local Mohawk Correctional Facility.
Brooks ‘ home, rightly shaken, has expressed anger and sorrow over the launch of the film. In a statement, they called the film “devastating” and said watching the “horrific and harsh last times” of Robert’s career was a terrible experience for them. They vowed to seek justice, saying,” We will not rest until we have secured justice for Robert’s memory”.
Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, blasted the incident, saying in a statement,” We have no tolerance for individuals who cross the line, break the law, and engage in unnecessary violence or targeted abuse.” She emphasized that for behavior would not be tolerated in New York.
Governor Hochul’s reaction to the event
The launch of this video coincides with the country’s ongoing struggle with issues involving authorities and prison cruelty, especially against Black people. National protests calling for racial justice and accountability were sparked by the dreadful events surrounding George Floyd’s death in 2020, and this most recent incident is likely to spur even more calling for change.
The investigation into Brooks ‘ death is expected to be a focal point for ongoing conversations about systemic violence and racial injustice, and the picture has already become a rallying point for those who want changes to the prison system in the United States.
