- Source: Death of Dvontaye Mitchell
On June 30, 2024, Dvontaye L. Mitchell, a 43-year-old African-American man, died after being pinned to the ground by four security staff members at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee hotel. Mitchell's death was captured on video, and shows him pleading for his life. Mitchell's brother likened it to the murder of George Floyd.
Four people are being investigated for felony murder.
Incident
On the afternoon of June 30, 2024, a disturbance was reported at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Dvontaye Mitchell (born 1981) was detained by security guards outside the hotel; he was seen to grunt and call for help. By the time police arrived, Mitchell was unresponsive. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and Mitchell was pronounced dead.
Aftermath
The incident has been likened to the murder of George Floyd.
Several employees of the hotel were fired following the incident, and the management company responsible for the employees stated that they "believe that criminal charges should be filed". Mitchell's death is being investigated as a homicide; the Milwaukee Police Department stated that have "referr[ed] four individuals for felony murder charges."
Benjamin Crump, the Mitchell family's lawyer, stated that his death was caused by assault, battery, and excessive force. Results from an autopsy are pending.
Mitchell's funeral was held on July 11 at Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, Milwaukee, with Al Sharpton delivering a eulogy. Mitchell's death sparked national outcry with civil rights activists including Sharpton and Crump leading to call to demand "Justice for Dvontaye".