On June 30, D’vontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old man allegedly experiencing a mental health crisis, entered the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee hotel seeking help. However, instead of receiving aid, security footage reportedly shows hotel staff and security reacting violently by punching, dragging, and restraining Mitchell.
This intense physical altercation allegedly resulted in Mitchell being unable to breathe, leading to his tragic death. The incident has now led to felony murder charges against four employees involved in the confrontation.
The hotel staff reportedly believed that Mitchell was panhandling on the premises. After being asked to leave by a security guard, Mitchell allegedly fled inside the hotel, locking himself in a women’s bathroom. His family claims that the situation unnecessarily escalated from this point.
Footage reveals off-duty security guard Brandon Turner pulling Mitchell from the restroom into the lobby, after which a hotel guest and additional employees got involved. Notably, one female employee was seen hitting Mitchell with a broom. Despite this, neither the guest nor the employee with the broom has been charged.
Mitchell’s family has been vocal in their pursuit of justice, particularly his wife, DeAsia Harmon, who is devastated by the loss of her husband. She stated that the surveillance footage captured hotel staff taking her husband’s life.
Despite the charges already being brought against four employees, Mitchell’s family is advocating for even harsher legal consequences, seeking murder charges that could result in life imprisonment.
Mitchell’s sister, Nayisha Mitchell, also expressed her grief and frustration with the lack of intervention from bystanders. She spoke out about how she wished more people had tried to help her brother.
The official cause of Mitchell’s death was determined to be restraint asphyxia, along with the toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. However, the family’s attorney has pushed back against any notion that Mitchell’s substance use or health issues were to blame for his death, maintaining that the fatal outcome was solely due to the actions of the hotel staff.
As the investigation continues, Mitchell’s family remains focused on holding those responsible fully accountable for his death. Their call for more severe charges reflects their belief that the current legal proceedings are insufficient to deliver justice for Mitchell’s life being cut short due to what they argue was an avoidable and excessive use of force by the hotel employees.
