February 21st 2025.
According to a report from ABC News, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn for Robert Brooks. The former inmate of a New York state prison, who tragically lost his life in a senseless act of violence, is one step closer to receiving the justice he deserves.
After a thorough investigation, a grand jury recently indicted 10 former correctional officers for their involvement in the death of Robert Brooks. These officers, who were caught on video brutally beating the handcuffed inmate, were brought before the grand jury on February 20th to hear the charges against them.
Out of the 10 indicted, six of them – Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, and Mathew Galliher – are facing charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Additionally, one unnamed defendant is also facing similar charges. The remaining three officers – Michael Fisher, Michael Mashaw, and David Walters – have been charged with second-degree manslaughter. Another officer, Nicholas Gentile, is facing charges of tampering with physical evidence.
The criminal indictment alleges that the former guards acted in a way that put Robert Brooks' life in grave danger, ultimately leading to his death. This disturbing incident, which garnered national attention, occurred on December 9th, 2024, while Brooks was being transferred from the Mohawk Correctional Facility to the Marcy Correctional Facility.
The video footage released to the public shows the officers holding Robert Brooks on an exam table and assaulting him in various parts of his body, including his face, private area, and torso. The indictment claims that these beatings and assaults were carried out by the defendants, who were acting in concert with each other. Shockingly, the indictment also states that the officers showed a complete lack of concern for Brooks' well-being and failed to seek immediate medical assistance for him.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the investigation into this case, has confirmed that Robert Brooks was pronounced dead at a local hospital the day after the brutal beating took place. During the indictment, all the officers pleaded not guilty, and six of them were able to post a $250,000 bond, according to the New York Post.
In a powerful display of support for Brooks, protesters gathered outside the courtroom, shouting "murdered, murderer" at the defendants as they were escorted in wearing handcuffs. At a news conference, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick expressed his dismay at the footage, which showed the former officers carrying on with their duties as if nothing had happened. The medical examiner's report revealed that Brooks died from a compression of the neck and multiple blunt-impact injuries.
Fitzpatrick also shared his thoughts on the footage, stating that any reasonable person would conclude that Brooks must have provoked the officers in some way, either by spitting or resisting. However, he pointed out that the video clearly shows that Brooks did nothing to warrant such brutal treatment. New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul echoed similar sentiments, calling for the termination of all the officers involved, including two sergeants and a nurse who witnessed the attack but failed to intervene.
For Robert Brooks' son, Robert Jr., the past few months have been incredibly difficult as he awaits justice for his father. However, he is relieved that the process has finally begun, and those responsible for his father's death will be held accountable. In a statement, he expressed his grief and pain, stating that nothing could bring his father back, but these indictments were an important step towards achieving justice.
He also stressed the need for everyone involved in allowing this culture of violence and abuse to exist within the prison system to also be held accountable for their actions. For the grieving son, the convictions of these correctional officers for his father's murder would not be enough. He believes that every person in a position of authority who allowed this tragedy to occur must also face consequences for their inaction.
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