Ten individuals have been charged in connection with the violent beating that led to the death of inmate Robert Brooks, with six corrections officers now facing second-degree murder charges.
The officers charged with murder include Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, Mathew Galliher, and a yet-to-be-identified suspect who has not yet been arraigned. Additionally, three others, Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher and David Walters, have been charged with manslaughter, while Nicholas Gentile faces charges of tampering with physical evidence.
Nine of the suspects were arraigned on Thursday, all pleading not guilty. The 10th suspect, who has yet to be formally arraigned, is reportedly not considered a flight risk.
The case gained national attention after the New York State Attorney General’s Office released disturbing body cam footage in December, showing multiple officers restraining Brooks while others repeatedly punched, kicked, and even appeared to strike him with shoes.
According to the attorney general’s office, Brooks, who was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, was involved in a “use of force” incident with corrections officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. Following the altercation, he was transported to Wynn Hospital in Utica, located about seven miles away, where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of December 10.
Reports indicate that several of the officers implicated in Brooks’ death had prior allegations of excessive force filed against them.
The case continues to unfold as the legal process moves forward, with the charges marking a rare instance of corrections officers facing murder allegations in connection with an inmate’s death.