Mike Brooks obit

Former CNN Correspondent & Radio Host Mike Brooks Dies

Brooks, 66, served as a Washington D.C. police officer. He also assisted the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force following the 9/11 attacks. 

He was not on the list.

Former Atlanta radio host and CNN security reporter Mike Brooks died unexpectedly Wednesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Brooks, 66, served as a Washington D.C. police officer. He also assisted the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force following the 9/11 attacks.

Brooks worked as a CNN correspondent and was a frequent contributor to the Nancy Grace show in the early 2000s.

“He befriended me at HLN,” Grace told the AJC. “He was so great on air. He guest hosted on a regular basis. He was traveling back and forth to take care of his mom. I know this is a horrible shock for her and for all of us.”

He later worked at NewsTalk 106.7 FM which was later sold and flipped in 2019. Brett Barney, a former producer at the station, talked glowingly about Brooks.

“He was always the loudest in the room but also had the biggest heart. He was extremely kind. He was always giving people free stuff,” Barney said. “I met my wife through him. He was going to officiate my wedding, but his mom got sick.”

He appeared regularly on HLN's Nancy Grace show, and Prime News and gave significant coverage of the Anna Nicole Smith paternity controversy, as well as the Virginia Tech massacre. Brooks was also seen on Tru TV's In Session (formerly Court TV), where he provided commentary as their law-enforcement analyst.

A cause of death has not yet been determined and funeral arrangements are pending.