Four individuals face murder charges in connection with the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, who passed away after being restrained outside a Milwaukee hotel.
RELATED STORIES: Deputy Sean Grayson Who Shot Sonya Massey Thought Her Rebuke ‘In The Name Of Jesus’ Indicated Intent To Harm Him
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office charged the four individuals with felony murder and identified them as Todd Alan Erickson, Devin W. Johnson-Carson, Brandon LaDaniel Turner, and Herbert T. Williamson. Mitchell’s cause of death was ruled a homicide after he died from suffocation and the effects of drugs in his system on June 30, said the Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office last week. According to NBC News, the felony murder charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years and nine months in prison upon conviction.
On June 30, the four men held Mitchell face down on the ground outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel on June 30, and police reported that he had entered the hotel, reportedly caused a disturbance, and fought with security guards as they escorted him out. The guards detained him until authorities arrived, and around 4:30 p.m., Mitchell was found on the ground, not breathing. Erickson and Turner were working as security guards, Williamson as a bell door attendant, and Johnson-Carson as a front desk agent at the time of the incident.
RELATED STORIES: Illinois Sheriff Apologizes To Community After Deputy’s Fatal Shooting Of Sonya Massey
Williamson reportedly told investigators that he and the three other men were telling Mitchell to calm down and believed he was responsive. Johnson-Carson stated that he thought he heard Mitchell say something about breathing but couldn’t recall what was said. Erickson said Mitchell was struggling, so they held him down but claimed he did not intend to harm or kill him.
In the criminal complaint, a video uploaded to Facebook was used as a reference since it captured Mitchell’s labored breathing, gasps, and apology.