Four Hotel Workers to Stand Trial for Killing Man
- Four Milwaukee hotel workers accused of killing a man by pinning him to the ground.
- Court orders the workers to stand trial for the killing outside the hotel lobby.
- Wisconsin court commissioner decides that the case will proceed to trial.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Four hotel workers from Milwaukee are set to face trial on murder charges following the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell in June. The accused include Hyatt Hotel security guards Todd Erickson and Brandon Turner, along with bellhop Herbert Williamson and front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson. Each is charged with being a party to felony murder, a case that has drawn comparisons to the high-profile death of George Floyd, highlighting issues of race and police conduct. Court documents reveal that Mitchell, who was involved in a disturbance at the hotel, was forcibly restrained by the four workers for approximately eight to nine minutes. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Mitchell entering a women’s bathroom and attempting to lock two women inside. After being forcibly removed from the hotel, he was pinned down by the workers, during which he expressed distress and difficulty breathing. Williamson, one of the accused, admitted to placing his knee on Mitchell's back, claiming that Mitchell was uncooperative and attempted to bite Erickson. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office noted that Mitchell was morbidly obese, had heart disease, and had drugs in his system at the time of his death. Following the incident, Aimbridge Hospitality, the hotel management company, terminated the employment of the four workers in July. The company stated that a settlement was reached with Mitchell's family to provide some comfort amid their mourning. The accused are scheduled to enter pleas on Thursday morning.