The FBI is now investigating the death of Robert Brooks, a New York inmate who was fatally beaten by corrections officers in a horrifying incident caught on body cam footage.
In a statement to TMZ, the FBI said:
“The FBI Albany Field Office and the Department of Justice are reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Robert L. Brooks to determine the appropriate federal response. As this is an ongoing review, we are not able to comment further at this time.”
Shocking Body Cam Footage
The investigation follows the release of graphic body cam footage by the New York State Attorney General. The video shows corrections officers repeatedly punching, kicking, and gagging Brooks, who was restrained during the attack.
At one point, an officer is seen hitting Brooks with a shoe while others hold him down with his arms behind his back. Later, the officers lift him by his neck. Brooks, bloodied and barely conscious, appears unable to hold up his own weight.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault at Marcy Correctional Facility. He died hours after the beating.
Family Attorney Speaks Out
Elizabeth Mazur, the attorney for Brooks’ family, issued a statement:
“With the Attorney General’s release of these videos, members of the public can now view for themselves the horrific and extreme nature of the deadly attack on Robert L. Brooks. As viewers can see, Mr. Brooks was fatally, violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to keep him safe. He deserved to live, and everyone else living in Marcy Correctional Facility deserves to know they do not have to live in fear of violence at the hands of prison staff.”
Ongoing Investigations
The New York State Police are also investigating the incident, alongside the FBI and Department of Justice.
The Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the results of Brooks’ autopsy. TMZ reached out to the coroner’s office for updates, but no response has been received.
This tragic case has sparked widespread outrage, with advocates calling for justice and better protection for inmates in correctional facilities.
