A number of New York jail guards have been indicted in reference to the “disturbing” loss of life of an inmate final month throughout a wildcat officers’ strike, Gov. Kathy Hochul stated Tuesday.
Messiah Nantwi, a prisoner on the Mid-State Correctional Facility, died at a hospital March 1 following what other prisoners said was a severe beating by several guards.
On the time, the state’s prisons had been in a state of disaster attributable to the walkout of 1000’s of jail personnel throughout an unauthorized 22-day strike that had compelled the governor to name within the Nationwide Guard.
“The tragic loss of life of Mr. Nantwi by the hands of correction officers who’re liable for defending the incarcerated inhabitants is deeply, deeply disturbing,” Hochul stated in a short video message.
The governor didn’t instantly say what number of guards had been indicted or reveal particulars concerning the costs. Her workplace didn’t reply to an e mail looking for extra data.
A particular prosecutor investigating Nantwi’s loss of life, Onondaga County District Lawyer William Fitzpatrick, stated earlier Tuesday {that a} “noteworthy growth” within the case can be introduced to a choose in Utica on Wednesday — a sign that prison costs could be imminent.
The Rev. Kevin McCall, a spokesperson for Nantwi’s family, stated relations deliberate on attending.
The New York Instances interviewed multiple inmates on the jail who reported that Nantwi was severely crushed by correctional officers earlier than he died.
The workplace of New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James stated in a courtroom submitting final month there was “possible trigger to imagine” that as many as 9 correctional officers both prompted or may very well be implicated in Nantwi’s loss of life.
Jail officers stated Tuesday that seven officers have resigned within the wake of Nantwi’s loss of life and 11 have been suspended with out pay.
The particular prosecutor’s workplace declined Tuesday to supply particulars on the brand new growth. Fitzpatrick, who had stated he wouldn’t touch upon the case till a grand jury took motion, has scheduled a information convention for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday following the courtroom look.
Nantwi’s loss of life got here a number of months after one other inmate, Robert Brooks, was fatally crushed at one other jail, the Marcy Correctional Facility, that sits throughout the road from the Mid-State Correctional Facility. Six guards had been charged with homicide, three with manslaughter and one with proof tampering in Brooks’ loss of life. They’ve pleaded not responsible, and their instances are pending.
Correctional officers upset over working circumstances started illegally strolling off the job Feb. 17 at many state prisons. Incarcerated folks and their advocates complained that companies and circumstances deteriorated throughout the walkout.
The strike ended when many guards returned to work and Hochul fired the remaining 2,000 holdouts.
Nantwi entered the state jail system final Could and had been serving a five-year sentence for second-degree prison possession of a weapon associated to an alternate of gunfire with cops in 2021. On the time, he was shot a number of occasions, whereas the officers had been unhurt.
Manhattan prosecutors say Nantwi shot and killed Jaylen Duncan, 19, on a Harlem avenue in April 2023. The next night, they are saying, he shot and killed Brandon Brunson, 36, at a Harlem smoke store after an argument.
