Four Milwaukee hotel workers face felony murder charges after a video showed them pinning down D'Vontaye Mitchell, leading to his death during a mental health episode, according to the district attorney's office.

The charges come after intense public outcry and a disturbing video that reveals the four hotel employees restraining Mitchell, a Black man, face down for nearly nine minutes. Mitchell's death, ruled a homicide due to restraint asphyxia compounded by drug toxicity, has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd and spurred demands for justice from Mitchell's family and community activists. Arrest warrants have been issued for the involved employees, who have since been fired by the hotel management firm.

The Milwaukee District Attorney's Office has identified the four charged individuals as Todd Alan Erickson, Devin W. Johnson-Carson, Brandon Ladaniel Turner, and Herbert T. Williamson. Their actions on the day of Mitchell's death have been under scrutiny following the release of the video footage showing their attempt to restrain him during what his family described as a mental health episode.

According to authorities, Mitchell was seen in the hotel lobby appearing frantic and disoriented. Hotel surveillance footage captured him running through the area, then subsequently running out of a gift shop and towards the women's bathroom before the confrontation with the hotel employees ensued.

The video, which has been widely circulated, shows the hotel guards striking and kicking Mitchell before they managed to detain him outside the hotel. The footage documents the four men pinning Mitchell facedown for approximately eight to nine minutes. The restraining efforts eventually led to Mitchell becoming unresponsive.

The medical examiner for Milwaukee County stated that Mitchell's death was the result of restraint asphyxia coupled with toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. The ruling of homicide propelled public demands for accountability and justice for Mitchell’s death. Many community members gathered outside the Milwaukee District Attorney's Office to insist that charges be brought against those involved.

Family attorney Ben Crump has been vocal about the case, drawing comparisons between Mitchell’s demise and the high-profile death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in 2020. Crump has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability.

In addition to the legal charges, the four hotel employees have been terminated from their positions by the hospitality firm managing the hotel. The company stated that they are cooperatively working with the investigation and are committed to ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

Mitchell's family has taken further steps by filing a formal complaint and launching a broader campaign seeking justice for his death. They argue that proper protocols were not followed, exacerbating the situation and leading to an unnecessary loss of life during what should have been treated as a medical and mental health crisis.

This incident in Milwaukee has reignited discussions on how mental health crises are managed in public and by private security personnel.

As the legal proceedings continue, the Milwaukee community remains alert and engaged, demanding both answers and reforms. The cases of custodial deaths and the urgent need for systemic changes in handling mental health emergencies continue to be areas of active debate and concern.