Medical Examiner rules death of Robert Brooks a homicide

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Onondaga Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Robert Brooks a homicide. Brooks, of Greece, died the day after corrections officers beat him at Marcy Correctional Facility.

The medical examiner determined that Brooks died from compression of the neck and multiple blunt impact injuries. Body-worn camera video shows corrections officers beating Brooks on his head, chest, and genital area in a medical exam room on Dec. 9. He died in the hospital.

In New York State, homicide means conduct that causes the death of another person. The law firm Faraci Lange released this statement on behalf of the Brooks family and its attorneys:

“I can say the autopsy report confirms what already was clear: Robert Brooks’ violent death was a homicide. 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 his family.”

Community members, including Brooks’ father, came together on Tuesday night at East High School to call for prison reform in the wake of his death.

So far, there have been no criminal charges in Brooks’ death. The Onondaga County district attorney is the special prosecutor on the case. Seventeen employees at Marcy Correctional Facility have been suspended without pay or have resigned since Brooks’ death. That includes two nurses.

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• Former inmate speaks out about prison violence after video of Robert Brooks’ beating released (Jan. 8)
• ‘This killing must be a catalyst for change’: Robert Brooks’ son speaks out at rally (Dec. 31)
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• ‘Heartbroken’: Prison reform advocate calls Marcy Correctional Facility video ‘dehumanizing’ (Dec. 30)
• ‘Completely inexplicable’: Family attorney reacts to body cam video of Robert Brooks’ beating in prison (Dec. 28)