Charges have been filed against ten corrections officers in connection with the death of Robert Brooks, an inmate who prosecutors allege was murdered while handcuffed at a New York State prison in December 2024. The officers face various charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and evidence tampering.
Six officers—Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, Mathew Galliher, and one unnamed individual—have been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Galliher faces an additional charge of second-degree gang assault, while Anzalone has been charged with filing a false report. Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher, and David Walters have been charged with second-degree manslaughter. Nicholas Gentile is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the attack on Brooks, stating that she took immediate action to terminate the employment of those involved. She described the incident as brutal and expressed support for holding the perpetrators accountable.
Robert Brooks’ son called the charges an essential step toward justice. He emphasized the importance of fully prosecuting those responsible and addressing systemic issues in state prisons to prevent similar incidents. The Brooks family has vowed to push for reforms that improve prison safety and oversight.
On December 9, 2024, Brooks, 43, was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility. According to a charging document, he was allegedly assaulted by Anzalone, Walrath, and another officer while being taken to the infirmary for a medical checkup. Once in the emergency room, he was restrained, beaten, choked, gagged, forcibly moved, and kicked, despite offering minimal resistance. The document claims there was no legitimate law enforcement justification for the attack.
The officers involved reportedly did nothing to stop the beatings or provide immediate medical assistance. Mashaw, Walters, and Fisher, who were present in the infirmary, allegedly failed to intervene. Walters was accused of instructing a nurse not to enter the emergency room. Anzalone was charged with filing false reports to cover up the incident, while Gentile allegedly tampered with evidence by cleaning Brooks’ bloodstains to conceal the assault.
Brooks’ cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries and neck compression. Bodycam footage captured the incident, showing officers repeatedly striking Brooks and using a chokehold. The Brooks family has filed a civil rights lawsuit, seeking justice and systemic prison reforms.
