Law enforcement in the US state of New York on Friday released “devastating” footage of prison guards beating an African-American inmate shortly before he died, according to an afp dispatch on Saturday.

The body-worn camera footage, recorded the night of December 9, shows Robert Brooks, 43, brutalized by multiple prison guards, with his face bloodied and neck held.

Brooks, an inmate at a northern New York prison serving a 12-year sentence for assault, was pronounced dead later that night.

Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, said the video was released to provide “transparency and accountability.”

In a statement, Brooks’ relatives said they found “watching the horrific and violent final moments of Robert’s life was devastating for his loved ones.”

“We will not rest until we have secured justice for Robert’s memory,” the statement added.

The footage shows Brooks restrained on what appears to be a hospital bed with several guards holding him down and beating him.

Brooks is later seen sitting up and gets dragged off the bed by his collar.

A preliminary autopsy reported in local press said the cause of death was “asphyxia due to compression of the neck,” though full autopsy results remain pending.

The footage lacks audio, which James said was because the guards “did not activate” their body-worn cameras despite them being on, leading to the soundless recording.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the incident in a statement.