Family of man who died outside Hyatt hotel: 'It's like watching George Floyd's death'

Video circulating on social media documenting the final moments of D'Vontaye L. Mitchell’s life has left his family with more questions than answers.

But one thing they all can agree on: Mitchell was a loving brother and member of the family. And the manner in which he appears to have died is too similar to another Black man who died four years ago after being held, face down on the ground.

Mitchell, 43, died around 4 p.m. Sunday after being held down by four security guards outside the Hyatt Regency hotel on Kilbourn Avenue, following what Milwaukee police described as a disturbance and subsequent fight as he was escorted out. The cause of the disturbance, according to a witness, was Mitchell allegedly walking into the women's bathroom.

“It’s like watching the video of George Floyd’s death,” Mitchell’s younger brother, Darrell Giles said. “Everything about it reminds me of George Floyd.”

A witness said that at least 20 to 30 people were nearby, with some streaming it live on Facebook or recording it.

“They treated him like he was nothing, like he was an animal,” sister-in-law Candice Miller said.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Monday the preliminary cause of his death to be a homicide. The Milwaukee Police Department on Tuesday said it is investigating Mitchell’s death, that the cause of death is under investigation, that the Medical Examiners final report is still pending and it is “not a criminal investigation.”

“Security detained the individual until police arrived,” a Tuesday email from police said. “Upon arrival, the individual was unresponsive and despite lifesaving measures, the 43-year-old individual was pronounced deceased.”

Police declined to answer follow-up questions regarding the incident, citing it as an ongoing investigation.

Mitchell’s family members said Tuesday they contacted Milwaukee Police for information on his death but have yet to receive any updates on the circumstances surrounding his death.

“They need to stop killing Black men,” his older sister Nayisha Mitchell said. "We are not going to stop until we get justice. We are not going to allow his death to be swept under the rug."

The family said they had no idea why Mitchell was at the Hyatt. They said he suffered from depression since his father's death in 2016. The initial medical examiner's report said Mitchell was homeless, however the family refuted that.

Witness to Mitchell's death wonders if he could have done more to intervene

Shawn Moore said he was walking to a store when he heard shouting from the Hyatt. He walked over to see what was happening. He was among those who witnessed the event and recorded what he saw. Video from Moore and others capture Mitchell being held down by four security guards, with knees on various parts of his back. Another video shows Milwaukee authorities attempting to give Mitchell CPR.

At times, Mitchell can be heard screaming and saying “please” as a guard shouts for him to ”stay down.” Moore said one security guard appeared to be striking Mitchell during it.

Moore said he was on the scene between seven and 10 minutes before police arrived.

“When the police came, that’s when they started getting off of him and police … started checking for a pulse,” he said. “He checked a neck first then he checked an arm and then his neck again and then he turned him over and his body was limp.”

Throughout the incident, Moore said that someone was shouting “this is what happens when you go in the women’s bathroom.” That same person attempted to get him and another person to stop recording, he said, asking them if they’re ‘cool with (Mitchell) trying to hurt us.’

The family members are encouraging anyone who witnessed Mitchell's death to reach out to them on social media with photos or videos.

Two days after Mitchell's death, his brother said he can't stop crying. Moore said witnessing Mitchell's death is impacting his sleep. He wonders if he should have done more to intervene.

“I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep, looking back on it, I just wish I had did more, I wish I would’ve had the forethought to think about how this could turn into a George Floyd situation,” he said.

Jessica Van Egeren is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at [email protected].

David Clarey is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Family of man who died at Hyatt compares death to George Floyd's