Milwaukee County DA charges 4 with murder in D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death

Milwaukee, WI – Four Charged with Felony Murder

In a recent development, the Milwaukee County Distict Attorney’s Office has formally charged four men for their alleged involvement in the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old man who died following a confrontation at the Milwaukee Hyatt Regency hotel on June 30. The individuals, identified as Brandon LaDaniel Turner, 35, Todd Alan Erickson, 60, Herbert T. Williamson, 52, and Devin W. Johnson-Carson, 23, face felony charges in connection with Mitchell’s death.

Incident Caught on Video Footage

The charges were filed after a detailed review of surveillance footage captured inside the hotel on the day of the incident. The charges stated that Mitchell, while interacting with the four accused individuals in a confrontation, was dragged out of the hotel and subsequently beaten and punched multiple times.

The detailed footage revealed that Turner and SB, a hotel guest who intervened to help Turner, dragged Mitchell through a set of sliding doors where another hotel employee, TB, can be seen striking Mitchell in the legs with a broom, forcing him to the ground. Turner then delivered multiple punches, some landing when Mitchell was already on the ground.

Protests and Demonstrations

Following Mitchell’s death, the city witnessed several protests and demonstrations calling for justice for the deceased. The incident garnered wider attention when compared with the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died during an encounter with Minneapolis police officers in 2020. These comparisons heaped pressure on the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office to charge individuals involved in Mitchell’s death.

“This is a Move in the Right Direction”

The announcement of the charges has been met with cautious optimism from Mitchell’s family. Nayisha Mitchell, the deceased’s sister, commented on the development saying, “This is a move in the right direction. We’re going to keep standing, keep pushing, and keep moving until we get what we’re looking for. And that’s for all these individuals to be convicted.“

Supporting Nayisha’s statement, Benjamin Crump, attorney representing Mitchell’s family, expressed his satisfaction with the charges but insisted that their fight for justice is far from over. He echoed the sentiments of the family in stressing their resolve to achieve a conviction.

The Charges and Legal Consequences

Felony murder charges in Milwaukee County can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years and nine months. At present, arrest warrants have been issued for all four accused individuals. There are no reports yet regarding their custody.

About the Incident

The fatal encounter transpired at the Milwaukee Hyatt Regency hotel when it is alleged Mitchell ran across the hotel lobby, seemingly frantic, into the gift shop and subsequently into a women’s restroom where he attempted to lock himself in with two women present in the restroom. Security attempted to remove him and the confrontation escalated from there.