Death of DVontaye Mitchell by Security in Milwaukee Ruled Homicide

A Black man, DVontaye Mitchell, died after being pinned to the ground by security guards outside a Milwaukee hotel. An autopsy has now ruled his death a homicide. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office reported that Mitchell suffocated while being restrained on June 30 and had drugs in his system.

Autopsy Findings

The autopsy, signed by assistant medical examiner Lauren A. Decker, revealed that Mitchell's immediate cause of death was "restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine." It also noted that he had hypertensive cardiovascular disease and morbid obesity. Mitchell was 6 feet tall and weighed 137 kg.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office had previously stated that it was awaiting full autopsy results and reviewing the case as a homicide. The Associated Press reached out to the district attorney's office for comments on the autopsy report and its impact on potential charges.

Incident Details

Mitchell was restrained by four people after causing a disturbance in the hotel lobby. He reportedly became unresponsive while staff awaited police arrival. He died after being held down on his stomach by security guards outside the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Relatives of Mitchell and their lawyers reviewed hotel surveillance video provided by the district attorney's office. They described seeing Mitchell being chased inside the hotel by security guards, dragged outside, and beaten.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Mitchell's family, stated that video recorded by a bystander shows security guards with their knees on Mitchell's back and neck. Crump questioned why no charges had been filed related to Mitchell's death.

Family's Response

Mitchell's family and their lawyers released a statement demanding immediate charges against those involved in his death. "Mitchell was in the midst of a mental health crisis and, instead of abiding by their duty to protect and serve, the security officers and other Hyatt staff used excessive force that inflicted injury resulting in death," they said. "We will not rest until we achieve justice for Mitchell and his grieving family."

Aimbridge Hospitality, which manages the hotel, previously stated that several employees involved in Mitchell's death have been fired.

The medical examiner's office also released an investigative report stating that Mitchell "was restrained by four people after being combative in the hotel lobby." The report added that he went unresponsive while staff awaited police arrival.

Mitchell died after being held down on his stomach by security guards outside a Hyatt Regency hotel. Police said he entered the hotel, caused a disturbance, and fought with guards as they escorted him out.

The findings confirm the medical examiner's preliminary ruling last month that Mitchell's death was a homicide.