Seven Henrico County, Va., sheriff’s deputies are being charged with murder for an incident that took place at a local hospital on March 6.

The officers had been physically restraining Irvo Otieno while he was admitted to the hospital, NBC News reported.

“He died of asphyxia due to being smothered to death, thanks to having at least seven people, including the defendant, on top of him and holding him down,” Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill said during a Wednesday court hearing.

The court hearing was streamed in a video broadcast by NBC affiliate WWBT of Richmond.

The deputies are now being charged with second-degree murder.

“None of them are known as bullies,” said Cary Bowen, an attorney representing defendant Jermaine Branch, who had been with the police department for 24 years.

Otieno was arrested for allegedly assaulting Henrico police officers at Parham Doctors’ Hospital following a burglary call days earlier.

Mark Krudys, an attorney representing Otieno’s family, said he was treated with unnecessary force.

“The family is truly grief-stricken after learning of the brutal nature of Irvo’s death and his inhumane treatment in the hours preceding his death,” said the lawyer. “The public, and experienced mental-health professionals alike, will be appalled when the facts of this case are fully made known.”