Hyatt Regency Milwaukee death; family demands accountability
MILWAUKEE - Cries for transparency and accountability continue in the Hyatt Regency Hotel death investigation in Milwaukee.
In an interview you'll see only on FOX6, Bria Jones sat down one-on-one with the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell, as they are now represented by several lawyers, including well-known civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
Their message is simple, they want justice for D’Vontaye and for his children.
They also want to see the security officers involved in this incident be criminally charged.
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Hyatt Regency Milwaukee death; man's family gathers outside hotel
It has been nearly a week since Dvontaye Mitchell died after security guards tried to restrain him outside a downtown Milwaukee hotel.
Graphic video shows 43-year-old D’Vontaye Mitchell’s final moments outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.
"That’s inhumane, and it ain’t right," said Latrisa Giles, D’Vontaye Mitchell's cousin.
Mitchell died last Sunday, after an altercation with hotel security. A witness says he allegedly locked himself in the woman's bathroom.
"To hear my child screaming please please. Nobody tried to help him," said Brenda Giles, D’Vontaye's mother.
DeAsia Harmon is his widow and the mother of his daughter.
D'Vontaye Mitchell
"We had an experience at the grocery store. She was afraid of the security guard. She said are all security bad or just the ones who murdered my dad," said DeAsia Harmon.
His death is also impacting the mother of his 6-year-old son who is also grieving.
"And it hurt me. He like mama can I give you a hug and he kissed me on the cheek and said mama we gone be okay," said Lueella Jackson.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is now one of the lawyers representing the family.
"When his mother says they did my son like George Floyd. It resonates with me just because you get so close to these matters that you say my god not again," said Ben Crump.
"You all have the evidence for probable cause to charge these killers with a crime. I have no doubt in my mind. Had this been reversed, D'Vontayne Mitchell would be charged with murder," Crump added.
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Hyatt Regency hotel, Milwaukee
Hyatt tells FOX6 the employees involved in the incident have been suspended. But for Mitchell's family, that's not enough.
When asked what justice and accountability would look like to the family, Nayisha Mitchell said, "Making the people who did this to my brother, who made him suffer, however long they was on top of him, pay for what they did. They need to feel the same pain that we felt."
The Milwaukee Police Department says it is an ongoing investigation.
Mitchell will be laid to rest later this week. The funeral will take place at Holy Redeemer Church in Milwaukee on Thursday, July 11. The visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the service to follow.
FOX6 was told Rev. Al Sharpton will be in town for the funeral.