**Prison Guards Indicted in Inmate’s Death Amid Outrage**
Utica, N.Y. – In a shocking case that has reverberated throughout New York, six prison guards from the Marcy Correctional Facility have been indicted for second-degree murder in connection with the fatal beating of a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks. This event, which occurred in December, was recorded on body-worn cameras, leading to public outrage and urgent calls for justice.
In addition to the murder charges, four other corrections employees face lesser charges in relation to Brooks’ death. The indictment was made public on Thursday, and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who is serving as the special prosecutor in the case, expressed deep concern over the nonchalant demeanor of those involved as evident in the video footage.
Fitzpatrick noted that any rational individual reviewing the footage would recognize that Brooks had not provoked the guards. “He must have said something. He must have spit at the officers. He must have resisted in some way. The fact of the matter is, he did absolutely nothing,” he stated during a press conference after the court session.
The guards, appearing one by one in front of a packed courtroom in Utica, all pleaded not guilty. At least six of them posted bail, which was set at either $250,000 or a $1 million partially secured surety bond for the murder charges. Following the court proceedings, a man voiced his distress at the decision, claiming, “This is not justice, judge — These people killed a Black man,” while another individual was escorted out for shouting accusations at the guards.
The six guards charged with second-degree murder include Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, and Mathew Galliher. The name of the sixth guard has been withheld as they are set to appear in court next week. All six are also facing charges of first-degree manslaughter, indicating that prosecutors believe they bear criminal responsibility for the actions of their colleagues.
Brooks had been incarcerated since 2017 for first-degree assault and had just been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility from another prison when the beating occurred. Reports indicate that Brooks endured three assaults upon his arrival, with the fatal incident taking place in the prison infirmary and captured on the body-worn camera footage.
The heartbreaking video reveals guards violently attacking Brooks despite his cuffed hands, using a shoe to strike his chest and lifting him by the neck before dropping him. The assault, which occurred on the night of December 9, concluded with Brooks succumbing to his injuries the following day. An autopsy revealed he suffered from severe injuries including a broken neck, internal bruising, and airway restrictions that led to brain damage.
Fitzpatrick has emphasized that he intends to demonstrate in court that the guards acted under the misguided belief that the cameras were turned off, highlighting a troubling culture among correctional staff where inmate abuse was conducted without fear of reprisal or consequence. Brooks’ son, Robert Brooks Jr., expressed his belief that the indictments are a move toward accountability, stating, “These men killed my father, it was on video. The whole world got to see it.”
In a federal lawsuit filed earlier in January, Brooks Jr. alleged that his father was “systematically and casually” murdered, claiming that the prison system harbors an environment that condones violence among its staff. Fitzpatrick noted the shared culpability of those who committed the assault, those who simply watched, and those who were aware of the incident yet chose not to intervene.
Furthermore, Galliher faces an additional charge of gang assault, while three other guards — Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher, and David Walters — are charged with lesser manslaughter offenses. In addition, a worker identified as Nicolas Gentile is accused of tampering with evidence by attempting to clear away bloodstains to obscure the criminal act. According to Fitzpatrick, three other employees have reached plea deals.
Governor Kathy Hochul remarked that this case might represent a pivotal moment in restoring public belief in accountability for heinous acts, announcing that state officials would initiate measures to terminate over a dozen employees linked to the attack. The announcement of these indictments coincided with a wildcat strike among corrections officers across various facilities in the state, in response to the circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death.
Prior to Brooks’ murder, there had already been allegations of staff abuse within the medium-security prison. The case has attracted attention as it was overseen by special prosecutor Fitzpatrick after the state Attorney General stepped back due to previously representing some implicated officers in unrelated civil lawsuits.
Advocacy groups like the Correctional Association of New York have long reported rampant staff abuse at Marcy, with interviews revealing a pattern of physical assaults on inmates in unmonitored areas. They highlighted a culture in which guards were openly intimidating new arrivals, indicating a pervasive climate of violence thriving unchecked within the facility.
