MILWAUKEE — While Milwaukee Police continue to investigate the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, his family shed new light on the case.
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump is representing the family.
He said there is a witness with significant evidence that Mitchell was killed.
Outside of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, attorneys, along with Mitchell’s family, said they have seen new video of what happened to him.
The family shared that Mitchell was running from something, but from what, is unclear
They said he went into the gift shop in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and then locked himself in the women’s bathroom.
They further explained that the security guards dragged him out of the hotel, repeatedly knocked him to the ground and continued to beat him up while his hands were up.
His wife, DeAsia Harmon, was in tears over what she saw.
“They were basically ripping him out of his clothes. To do him like that and to embarrass him like that. To destroy his character. To take away his dignity. That was so wrong of them to do,” Harmon said.
Crump said they will also present a witness statement from one of the Hyatt employees to the DA’s office.
“He [Milwaukee County DA John T. Chisholm] will have all of the evidence to form probable cause to bring charges against the killers of her husband and her son,” said Crump.
Attorney B’Ivory LaMarr said that the employee described how he was initially helping the security guards hold Mitchell down but felt it was going too far.
“He knew what was occurring was wrong,” said Lamarr. “That Mr. Mitchell, D’Vontaye Mitchell, was not posing a threat and that this man was in a desperate plea for his life. He gets up, and he is trying to go back to the Hyatt Regency but he was commanded by the security officer to get back down and get back to restraining him.”
Mitchell’s mother, Brenda Giles, said she just wants charges brought against the security guards involved in her son’s death.
“We are never going to get over this,” said Giles. “It might get easier, better, but we will never get through this here, never. We need all the support, all the prayers and all the community to come in with us.”
After addressing the public, family and friends of Mitchell then marched back to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The group then blocked traffic in the area for about an hour to make it known that they want justice for Mitchell.
Hyatt shared the following updated statement Wednesday evening:
“Hyatt joins the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell in their calls for transparency, accountability and justice for this senseless tragedy. We believe that the employees of Aimbridge Hospitality who were involved should be terminated and that criminal charges should be filed.”
A candlelight vigil that was scheduled for Wednesday evening was canceled.
The funeral service for Mitchell will be held Thursday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Church. Crump will deliver a call for justice and Rev. Al Sharpton will give the eulogy.