Messiah Nantwi, 25, an inmate at the state-run Mid-State Correctional Facility, died March 1 after being taken to a local hospital. His death has led to a focus on new allegations that multiple correctional officers beat him bloody before his death. The case has become a media sensation. This follows the trend of Nantwi’s role in violent crimes that distinguished New York City earlier this year.
Nantwi was serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon when he reportedly shot and killed two individuals: Jaylen Duncan, 19, on a Harlem street in April 2023, and Brandon Brunson, 36, at a smoke shop after an argument. He was received into the state prison system in May 2022. This came three years after a 2021 debilitated city where he was shot several times during a shootout with police officers, who suffered no injuries.
The circumstances surrounding Nantwi’s death have led advocates to call for an investigation into the state’s correctional system. In a related disciplinary action, seven C.O.s have resigned since the incident, and eleven more have received the non-pay suspension pending investigations. New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office has dropped a big one. They say that there is “probable cause” to charge up to nine correctional officers for their role in Nantwi’s death.
A special prosecutor, William Fitzpatrick, is currently conducting a grand jury investigation of the incident. He said that a “significant development” would be filed before a judge in Utica on Wednesday. This first appearance in court will be a highly publicized one — family members of Nantwi are slated to attend.
Fellow inmates testified that they had witnessed the brutal beating of Nantwi. Their descriptions precipitated the criminal complaint against the correctional officers following his death from his injuries. The situation has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within the prison system, highlighting concerns about the treatment of inmates.