Ten New York Guards Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Fatal Beating of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility on March 1
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Ten New York prison guards have been charged in connection with the fatal beating of 22-year-old inmate Messiah Nantwi at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy. Two of the guards, Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair, face second-degree murder charges, while others are accused of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence. Sgt. Francis Chandler and Sgt. David Ferrone, along with Thomas Eck, Craig Klemick, and Daniel Burger, are among those charged.
Nantwi died on March 1 from injuries sustained during the beatings, which included massive head trauma and numerous other injuries to his body. The indictment alleges that Levi and Blair, part of an emergency response team called to assist National Guard members, assaulted Nantwi in his cell and continued the attack in a stairwell and at the infirmary.
The incident occurred during a three-week wildcat strike by correctional officers, which led to operational challenges at state prisons and the deployment of National Guard troops. The strike began on February 17, amid complaints about working conditions. At least 18 officers are part of the homicide investigation.
Governor Kathy Hochul described Nantwi's death as a 'horrific crime' and emphasized the disturbing nature of the incident, given the responsibility of correctional officers to protect the incarcerated population. The indictment also accuses some guards of attempting to cover up the assault by planting a makeshift knife in Nantwi's room.
Nantwi was serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, related to an exchange of gunfire with police in 2021. Prior to his imprisonment, he was involved in two fatal shootings in Harlem in April 2023.
This case marks the second instance this year where a group of New York correctional officers has been indicted for a death behind bars, following the fatal beating of Robert Brooks at the nearby Marcy Correctional Facility, where six guards have pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Ten New York prison guards were charged Wednesday in connection with the fatal beating of a 22-year-old inmate last month — including two charged with murder.
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