On Tuesday, investigators continued to look into the death of Robert Brooks, a prisoner in New York who suffered a brutal beating while handcuffed in a prison infirmary. Meanwhile, community members participated in demonstrations and vigils as authorities announced new procedural changes at the prison where this horrific incident took place.

Brooks, who was 43 years old, died on December 10, after he was beaten by corrections officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in central New York. This violent assault occurred while his hands were restrained behind his back. Although the officers did not activate their body cameras, footage captured while the cameras were in standby mode showed them frequently punching, kicking, and choking Brooks as they removed his clothes.

The release of this footage has incited outrage and resulted in protests outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in Midtown Manhattan, as well as demonstrations in Rochester, where local leaders demanded reforms in the criminal justice system and accountability for the officers involved in the assault.

In light of the incident, Hochul has launched a thorough investigation, and has ordered the firing of 14 correctional officers involved in Brooks’ death. Additionally, she announced on Monday that Marcy Correctional Facility will acquire a new superintendent in an effort to achieve an “extensive culture change.” The state’s Attorney General Letitia James has begun her own investigation into the use of force by the officers, with the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice also confirming their review of the event.

Here’s what we currently know about the incident, ongoing investigations, and the authorities’ responses:

What happened to Robert Brooks?

Brooks, who was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9 from the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, located approximately 53 miles northeast of Syracuse.

Recently released body-camera footage captured the moment when Brooks, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, was subjected to relentless punches, hit with a shoe, lifted by his neck, slammed against a wall, and stripped of his clothing before medical staff arrived to examine him.

Brooks was declared dead at Wynn Hospital in Utica on December 10, with autopsy results still pending, as reported by officials.

A resident of Greece in Monroe County, Brooks was imprisoned at Marcy after stabbing his then-girlfriend multiple times during a conflict. He accepted a guilty plea for first-degree assault and commenced his 12-year sentence in 2017.

Hochul implements leadership changes, mandates prison reforms

In the wake of the order to fire everyone involved in Brooks’ death, 13 individuals have been suspended without pay, and one has resigned.

The governor stated she has instructed corrections department officials to promptly bring in reforms aimed at safeguarding the welfare of both staff and inmates, including appointing Bennie Thorpe, the superintendent of Shawangunk Correctional Facility, to oversee Marcy Correctional Facility.

Hochul emphasized that additional personnel will be hired for the state corrections department’s special investigation office to ensure complaints are handled quickly and that anyone found at fault will face consequences in a timely fashion. She also mentioned the intention to hire an external firm to evaluate the culture and practices across the entire correctional system.

These recently announced measures build upon previous directives from Hochul following Brooks’ death. She revealed that corrections department leadership has already expanded a policy ensuring that staff members must activate body-worn cameras whenever they engage with inmates.

“Today, as I stood in the room where Robert Brooks lost his life, my heart broke once more at this tragic loss and I was further disturbed by the actions of those devoid of respect for human life,” Hochul stated in a press release on Monday. “The system failed Mr. Brooks, and I will not rest until there has been a meaningful culture change.”

Public calls for justice ignite protests and vigils

The circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death have ignited a series of protests and vigils, with family members, community members, and faith leaders advocating for reforms in the criminal justice system and the accountability of the officers who were involved in the assault on Brooks.

Rev. Dwight Fowler stated that the United Christian Leadership Ministry is pushing for the corrections officers connected to Brooks’ tragic death to be held accountable for their actions.

Following a tragic event, calls have been made for state authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding a prison death, alongside new policies for the mandatory use of body-worn cameras in correctional facilities across the state.

“What we have witnessed reflects a form of slave patrol and extermination,” Fowler commented on the officers responsible for the care of Brooks, condemning their behavior as “appalling, savage, merciless, and dehumanizing.”

On the same day, approximately 200 demonstrators gathered outside Hochul’s office in Midtown, urging for the arrest of the correctional officers implicated in Brooks’ demise.

Later that Monday, a vigil was conducted in Rochester, New York, the birthplace of Brooks. The event included a range of speakers from the community, including local leaders and elected officials.

“The Rochester community is once again making a heartfelt appeal for justice and reform in our criminal justice system,” remarked New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “I am profoundly moved by the demand for state policies and the resources required to implement the essential systemic changes in our correctional institutions. All New Yorkers — whether incarcerated or free — deserve to have their dignity acknowledged.”

Statements from Robert Brooks’ Family

Members of Brooks’ family addressed the vigil on Monday night in Rochester, with his son, Robert Brooks Jr., reading his father’s obituary.

Brooks was a native of Rochester and received his education within the Rochester City School District, including at George Matthew Forbes School and Frederick Douglass School. His son shared that those who knew him recognized his creative spirit, particularly in poetry, short stories, and rap music production.

“Our family deeply appreciates the support from the community,” Brooks Jr. expressed. “We sincerely hope that my father’s death will serve a greater purpose. His killing must ignite meaningful change. Justice needs to be pursued.”