What we know about the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell at the Hyatt Hotel
Security forces detain a man outside a Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee
A passerby filmed security guards detaining a man in front of a Hyatt in Milwaukee. The man died at the scene. The preliminary cause of death was homicide.
Courtesy of Shawn Moore
Since D’vontaye L. Mitchell died after being detained by four security guards outside a Milwaukee hotel, many questions about his death and the events leading up to it remain unanswered.
Mitchell’s death occurred at around 4 p.m. on June 30 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee after a disturbance and subsequent fight broke out as he was being escorted out, according to Milwaukee police. According to witnesses, the disturbance was caused by Mitchell allegedly entering the women’s restroom.
“They treated him like he was nothing, like he was an animal,” Mitchell’s sister-in-law Candice Miller told the Journal Sentinel.
But questions remain about why he was there, how the hotel is handling security and what is happening now. What is known so far is based on statements from local authorities and what witnesses have told the media.
Many details remain uncertain in the week since Mitchell’s death. Here’s what we know and don’t know so far:
D’Vontaye L. Mitchell described him as a loving family member, but had mental health problems
Mitchell’s family members told the Journal Sentinel that the 43-year-old man was a loving brother and family member. He was the father of an 8-year-old daughter, Morgan.
Family members said he had suffered from depression since his father’s death in 2016. The initial coroner’s report said Mitchell had been homeless, but the family denied this.
A statement from family attorney Ben Crump said Mitchell’s mother believed he was suffering from a mental disorder.
“They have to stop killing black men,” his older sister, Nayisha Mitchell, told the Journal Sentinel. “We will not stop until we get justice. We will not allow his death to be swept under the rug.”
How did D’Vontaye L. Mitchell die?
Mitchell died after security guards pinned him to his stomach outside the Hyatt Regency hotel, but the exact cause of death and autopsy results have not been released.
The Milwaukee County Coroner’s Office on July 1 determined the preliminary cause of death to be homicide. Milwaukee police said Tuesday that Mitchell’s death is under investigation, the cause of death is under investigation and the coroner’s final report is pending.
The manner in which Mitchell was restrained by security forces before his death draws immediate comparisons to the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis who was killed by police after an officer restrained him by kneeling on his back and neck.
Video footage from witnesses shows Mitchell being restrained by four security guards with knees pressed to various parts of his back. Another video shows Milwaukee authorities attempting to resuscitate Mitchell.
One witness told the Journal Sentinel he observed security guards detaining Mitchell for between 7 and 10 minutes. Another witness, Nick Hansen, said he believed he heard noise and screaming from the incident for about 10 to 15 minutes before driving over and observing the incident for another minute.
“When the police arrived, they let go of him and started feeling his pulse,” said witness Shawn Moore. “He felt his neck first, then an arm, then his neck again and then he turned him over and his body was limp.”
What led to the incident between D’Vontaye L. Mitchell and Hyatt security personnel?
It is not yet clear what happened before Mitchell was detained by hotel security.
Mitchell’s family said they had no idea why he was at the Hyatt, and an initial police statement gave only a vague description of the incident.
The statement said Mitchell entered the hotel and caused “public disturbances.”
“The person engaged in a struggle with security guards as they led her out. Security guards detained the person until police arrived. Upon arrival, the person was unresponsive and despite life-saving measures, the 43-year-old was pronounced dead,” the statement said.
In response to questions from the Journal Sentinel, police said they did not want to comment on ongoing investigations.
Throughout the incident, witnesses said, someone could be heard saying, “This is what happens when you go to the ladies’ room.” The same person tried to get Moore and another person to stop recording, Moore said, asking them if they were “okay with (Mitchell) trying to hurt us.”
Family members encourage anyone who witnessed Mitchell’s death to contact them via social media with photos or videos.
What are the safety policies in place for Hyatt hotels?
It is unclear whether the hotel security service was hired directly by the hotel or through a private security company.
Hyatt said in a statement that it was working with the Milwaukee Police Department and extended its deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Mr. Mitchell. The statement said it was working with hotel operator Aimbridge Hospitality to “understand the full extent of what happened.”
“To our knowledge, Aimbridge Hospitality is conducting a thorough investigation and has suspended the employees involved in the incident,” Hyatt said in a statement.
An Aimbridge spokesperson said in a statement Friday that the company is supporting law enforcement’s investigation and could not comment further at this time.
“We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Mitchell’s family and loved ones,” the statement said. “We remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all hotel guests and employees.”
Aimbridge declined to say whether the company hired security personnel or hired security guards itself.
Has anyone been charged in connection with the death of D’Vontaye L. Mitchell?
Authorities have not yet announced what they plan to do following Mitchell’s death, but there have been small updates.
In an email Friday, Milwaukee police said, “This is not a criminal investigation at this time. However, we are having the case reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.”
The district attorney confirmed he was reviewing the case and said there was no timetable for a decision on whether to file charges. On Wednesday, police said the cause of death was under investigation and the medical examiner’s final report was pending.
The Milwaukee County Coroner said an autopsy was performed in the case, but police have kept the case confidential and withheld the release of the autopsy results.
David Clarey is a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at [email protected].
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