A former New York state correction officer has been found guilty of murdering inmate Robert Brooks in 2023 while two other officers were cleared of all charges.
David Kingsley was convicted Monday of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors said Kingsley and several other guards beat Brooks, who was handcuffed and shackled, inside the prison’s infirmary. The attack was caught on body cameras that the officers tried to turn off, according to investigators.
Two other officers, Matthew Galliher and Nicholas Kieffer, were cleared of all charges. In total, ten officers had been charged in connection with the case. Six pleaded guilty earlier.
Brooks’ death led to protests and calls for prison reform across the state. After the verdict, Brooks’s family said they were grateful for the conviction but frustrated by the two officers getting let off without any charges.
“We got one guilty on all charges and two acquitted,” said his son, Robert Brooks Jr. “I feel, as in the people that were acquitted, they were doing what their supervisors told them to do. And so I can’t be totally mad at them, but I’m more mad at the system that allows that to go on.”
Governor Kathy Hochul said the case shows the need for more oversight in state prisons.
“What happened to Mr. Brooks is unconscionable,” Hochul said in a statement. “I am deeply committed to the changes we are making to ensure that New York State’s correctional facilities are safe for all who enter — employees, the incarcerated, visitors and volunteers alike.”
Kingsley faces up to 25 years to life in prison when sentenced next month.
Special prosecutor Bill Fitzpatrick stated he was happy that the men who were most responsible for this case were held accountable.
“I wish we could have done more about the two defendants that were acquitted, but we have a great system and … I picked that jury and I respect their verdict,” he said.
For Brooks’s family, it’s a small measure of justice in a system they say still needs major change.
