Murder charges have been announced in the death of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate who was beaten by guards at an upstate New York prison in December.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the charges Thursday, adding that New York State Police would be deployed to make arrests.
"Robert Brooks should be alive today," Hochul said in a statement. "The brutal attack on Mr. Brooks was sickening, and I immediately moved to terminate the employment of those involved."
A grand jury indictment was released later on Thursday, charging six correctional officers with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Two of them were additionally charged with gang assault.
One name was redacted, but the others were identified in the indictment as Anthony Farina, Mathew Galliher, Christopher Walrath, David Kinglsey and Michael Mashaw.
The five identified men pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday.
There were 17 employees, including four sergeants and two nurses, who were alleged to be involved in the death and were suspended as a result of the incident. Four others were charged in the grand jury indictment in connection with the case on varying charges, including manslaughter and evidence tampering
An unidentified woman sitting in the courtroom was escorted out after she had an outburst during an arraignment of one of the suspects.
"Racist murderer!" the woman screamed.
Bodycam footage from Dec. 9 showed Brooks with his hands cuffed behind his back at the Marcy Correctional Facility, as multiple guards punched and kicked him. Brooks was on an infirmary bed when the attack occurred, and at one point in the video his face was visibly bloodied.
He was taken to a hospital and died the following day. An autopsy report declared Brooks' manner of death was homicide, according to his family's attorney.
Brooks died due to compression of the neck and multiple blunt force injuries, attorney Elizabeth Mazur previously told NBC News.
Hochul ordered that 14 workers at the Marcy Correctional Facility be terminated after video of Brooks' beating surfaced. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said the incident was “not reflective of the great work that the vast majority of our membership conducts every day.”
Brooks' estate filed a civil complaint last month, accusing 17 people of excessive force in addition to other allegations in connection with his death.
