Four former employees of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Milwaukee have been charged with felony murder following the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old Black man. Mitchell was pinned to the ground in a prone position for several minutes during an altercation outside the hotel on June 30. The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney charged security guards Todd Erickson and Brandon Turner, front desk clerk Devin Johnson-Carson, and bellman Herbert Williamson. Turner was not on duty at the time of the incident. All four men have been dismissed by Hyatt and face up to 15 years and nine months in prison if convicted.
Incident Details
According to the criminal complaint, the altercation began when Turner confronted Mitchell, who ran through the lobby in a “frantic manner,” briefly entering the gift shop and a women’s bathroom. A scuffle ensued, and after punches were thrown, Turner and a hotel guest dragged Mitchell outside onto the hotel driveway.
The four defendants then restrained Mitchell, punching him, beating him with a baton, and pinning him to the ground in a prone position for eight to nine minutes. Mitchell eventually stopped moving and showing signs of life. Paramedics were unable to revive him upon arrival.
Comparison to George Floyd’s Death
Mitchell’s death has evoked memories of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis, where police officers pinned Floyd, a Black man, to the ground in a similar manner, leading to a global movement against police brutality and racism.
Autopsy Findings
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Mitchell’s death was caused by restraint asphyxia, classifying the manner of death as homicide. The autopsy also revealed the presence of cocaine and methamphetamine in Mitchell’s system.
Reactions and Legal Proceedings
Mitchell’s widow, DeAsia Harmon, expressed relief at the charges but believes they should have been filed sooner. “I’m grateful that they’re charging them with something. I’m not satisfied,” she said.
The defendants’ attorneys have not yet been listed in the Wisconsin court system. Officials from the district attorney’s office and the Milwaukee Police Department were unavailable for comment.
This incident highlights ongoing issues surrounding the use of force and racial injustice, echoing the calls for reform sparked by the George Floyd case.