You guys, this story is like, beyond horrifying. Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York, totally lost his life after a brutal attack by correctional officers. And get this—it all went down while he was handcuffed. Like, seriously?! The footage that just came out is so bad, it’s sparking a nationwide meltdown, with everyone from officials to regular peeps demanding justice and, like, a whole prison system makeover.
Okay, so back on December 9, Brooks was taken to this medical room while restrained—yes, in handcuffs. Then, according to body cam footage released by Attorney General Letitia James, the officers literally went all WWE on him. They were punching, kicking, and choking him. Like, how is this real life?
The video even shows Brooks passing out during the whole ordeal. He was declared dead the next day. The autopsy says the poor guy died from asphyxia—like, his neck was compressed. FYI, Brooks was serving 12 years for first-degree assault at the time.
Attorney General Letitia James was like, “a harrowing reminder of the systemic issues that plague our correctional facilities.” She said, “We cannot tolerate this type of inhumane treatment in a civilized society. This investigation will be thorough, and we will seek justice for Robert Brooks and his family.”
And Governor Kathy Hochul? She’s furious. She’s already suspended 14 staff members, including 13 officers and a nurse. “What happened to Robert Brooks is abhorrent,” she said. “We are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.” Um, yeah, you better be.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) executive director, Donna Lieberman, said, “Robert Brooks’ death is a stark illustration of the brutal conditions many incarcerated people face daily. Without systemic reform, this will not be the last tragedy.” Yikes.
Social media is blowing up. Like, #JusticeForRobert is trending everywhere, and people are just done with the whole prison system. Protests are already in the works for NYC and Albany because, duh, something has to change.
Robert Brooks’ sister, Angela Brooks, broke everyone’s hearts at a press conference. She said, “My brother was no angel, but he didn’t deserve to die like this. We need to make sure no other family has to go through what we are experiencing right now.”
So, the Attorney General’s office is on it, working with forensic experts. Like, charges are totally expected—maybe manslaughter, or even second-degree murder. People are calling for big-time changes, from better training for officers to stricter oversight.
Rachel Barkow, a law professor at NYU, said it best: “The tragedy here goes beyond the individuals involved. It speaks to a failure of leadership and a lack of effective oversight within our correctional system.”
This whole thing is an absolute disaster, and honestly, people are over it. Robert Brooks’ death is now, like, the center of this huge push for justice and reform. Stay tuned, because this is about to be a major story for a long time.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
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