OGDENSBURG -- A reported assault against an inmate at Riverview Correctional Facility has been ruled a homicide, according to the Onondaga Medical Examiner's Office.

State Police say an autopsy conducted on April 15 on Lawrence Brown by M.D. Katya Merkulva determined the cause of death to be a traumatic brain injury due to blunt force trauma to the head.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on April 7 at 11 a.m. when two incarcerated individuals were involved in a physical altercation in their dorm area, police said.

Police identified those involved as Ollie Jackson, 29, and Lawrence Brown, 34.

It was determined that Jackson struck Brown in the face with a close fist, at which time Brown is alleged to have lost his footing and falling on an unknown object.

EMS reposed to the scene and transported Brown to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center before he was transferred to SUNY Upstate Medical Center, where he was placed on a ventilator due to significant bleeding on the brain.

He remained unresponsive until succumbing to his injuries on April 10, police said.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are assisting with the investigation.

This remains an ongoing investigation, and charges are pending.

This marks the third death in local correctional facilities to be labeled a homicide in recent weeks.

The killings come more than a year after wildcat strikes were held by corrections officers in 2025 due to what they called dangerous working conditions.

In response to the illegal strikes the state fired thousands of officers. In the wake of that move the state has struggled to replenish ranks.

It also led to the early release of a number of inmates.

The strikes came on the heels of reports that several corrections officers were exposed to fentanyl and had to be treated with Narcan.

At the core of the strike was an argument for safer working conditions, with officers demanding body scanners and mail scanners, among other things.

Not long after corrections officers began to call for safer working conditions and a repeal of the HALT act, which limits the use of segregated confinement.

“Every incarcerated person in New York state is in our care, and right now we are failing them,” Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) said. “The HALT Act must be repealed.”

“We are well past the time for a full repeal of this misguided legislation; it has made our facilities less safe for everyone—staff and inmates alike. It’s time to stop the virtue signaling, listen to our courageous Correction Officers, and restore the order and safety that both they and the incarcerated population deserve,” State Sen. Mark Walczyk said.

Gouverneur

State Police are treating the investigation of a Gouverneur inmate’s death from a head injury as a homicide.

On April 10 around 8:30 a.m., the New York State Police were informed of a possible homicide at Gouverneur Correctional Facility.

State Police say that correction officers were conducting routine rounds when they discovered an inmate, identified as Shaun Bennett, 45, lying on the floor in his cell.

Bennett was unable to move and was transported to the facility infirmary, where he became unresponsive. Officers and medical staff administered lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful. The St. Lawrence County Coroner responded to the scene and pronounced Bennett dead.

According to State Police, an investigation revealed that a physical altercation had occurred between Bennett and his cellmate, Savon O’Neal, 32, who was transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

An autopsy was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael S. Sikirica. The cause of death for Shaun Bennett was determined to be cardiorespiratory arrest due to a closed head injury, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are assisting with the ongoing investigation.

Charges are currently pending in connection with the incident.

Malone

The death of an inmate at a Malone prison is being treated as a homicide after signs of foul play were reportedly discovered.

On April 6 at approximately 4:30 p.m., State Police responded to Upstate Correctional Facility on Bare Hill Road in the town of Malone for a report of a deceased male.

An investigation determined that Michael J. Campbell, age 51, was found unresponsive under a sheet.
Further investigation reportedly revealed signs of foul play, indicating that Campbell had been strangled with a shoelace by his cellmate, Andrew Hernandez, 42.

An autopsy was conducted at Glens Falls Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael S. Sikirica. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to ligature strangulation, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office are assisting with the investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing, and charges are pending.

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