Additional Coverage:
- All 4 Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder in Black man’s death now in custody (newsbreak.com)
The final suspect involved in the case of D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death at a Milwaukee hotel was arrested last Friday, concluding over five weeks of legal actions against the hotel staff accused of causing his demise. Herbert Williamson, a bellhop, was detained following charges laid against him and three other hotel employees for their roles in the fatal incident at the Hyatt Regency on June 30.
Alongside Williamson, Todd Erickson, a 60-year-old security guard; Devin Johnson-Carson, a 23-year-old front desk worker; and 35-year-old security guard Brandon Turner, all face charges of felony murder. Each could receive a maximum of nearly 16 years in prison if convicted.
The charges stem from surveillance footage which depicted the employees forcefully restraining Mitchell in an attempt to eject him from the property, an act which prosecutors argue led to his death. Following the incident, Aimbridge Hospitality, the management firm overseeing the hotel, terminated several staff members involved.
The racial dynamics of the case have also been highlighted, with Williamson, Turner, and Johnson-Carson being Black, and Erickson as the sole white defendant. This aspect has drawn parallels to George Floyd’s 2020 murder, with Mitchell’s family lawyers comparing the two cases.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, representing Mitchell’s family, pointed to a widely circulated video showing the security guards applying pressure to Mitchell’s back and neck. According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell had entered a women’s restroom causing an employee to physically remove him and, together with others, pin him down for an extended period, during which he struggled to breathe.
The autopsy concluded Mitchell’s death was due to “restraint asphyxia,” exacerbated by inability to move into a position that would have allowed him to breathe properly. The report also noted Mitchell’s obesity and recent use of controlled substances, which may have influenced the fatal outcome.
Bond settings saw Erickson held on $50,000 and Turner at $30,000. Johnson-Carson’s bond was set at $5,000 during his initial court appearance.
The date for Williamson’s court hearing was not listed. As of this last update, all accused remained in custody.
Legal representatives for Erickson, Turner, and Johnson-Carson have yet to comment on the case, and Williamson has not had an attorney listed for him in public records.