Death of Robert Brooks, Inmate Beaten by N.Y. Prison Guards, Is Ruled a Homicide

New York|Beating Death of Shackled N.Y. Inmate Is Ruled a Homicide, Governor Says

An autopsy has found that the death of a New York State prison inmate who was handcuffed and shackled while corrections officers attacked him was a homicide, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday.

Ms. Hochul said the determination should prompt the swift filing of criminal charges against those involved in the death of the man, Robert Brooks, 43, at the Marcy Correctional Facility in December. She referred to the killing as a “murder” and “horrific.”

“Those responsible for Mr. Brooks’s death must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I recognize the need to build an airtight prosecution to ensure those individuals are brought to justice,” the governor said in a statement. “This reprehensible act of violence demands the full force of our justice system. The family of Mr. Brooks deserves no further delays.”

Mr. Brooks’s family has also called for criminal charges and has filed state and federal lawsuits against the State of New York and the people implicated in his killing. Elizabeth Mazur, a lawyer for the family, said on Wednesday that “the autopsy report confirms what was already clear: Robert Brooks’s violent death was a homicide.”

Ms. Mazur added: “We look forward to the prosecution of those responsible. In the meantime, we are pushing forward with our fight for justice for Mr. Brooks and for his family.”

Neither Ms. Hochul nor Ms. Mazur disclosed other details of the autopsy, which was conducted by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office. A spokeswoman for the office referred questions to the county’s district attorney, William J. Fitzpatrick, who is acting as a special prosecutor in the case. He did not return calls seeking comment.