The final hotel worker involved in the incident that led to D’Vontaye Mitchell’s death has been apprehended in Milwaukee after more than five weeks. Herbert Williamson, a bellhop at the Hyatt Regency hotel, was taken into custody alongside three other defendants charged with felony murder in connection to Mitchell’s passing on June 30.
The charges were filed after surveillance footage revealed the four individuals piling on top of Mitchell as they attempted to remove him from the hotel lobby, resulting in his death. Along with Williamson, the other defendants include hotel security guard Todd Erickson, front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson, and security guard Brandon Turner. If found guilty, each could face nearly 16 years in prison.
Following the incident, Aimbridge Hospitality, the hotel management company, terminated several employees involved in the event. The defendants consist of a mix of black and white individuals, with Mitchell’s family’s lawyers drawing comparisons between his death and George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
According to a criminal complaint, Mitchell was restrained face-down for several minutes, during which he struggled to breathe. The medical examiner concluded that Mitchell died due to “restraint asphyxia” and suggested that allowing him to turn onto his side may have prolonged his life. Additionally, an autopsy revealed Mitchell’s health issues and substance use.
Erickson and Turner have appeared in court this week and have bail set at $50,000 and $30,000 respectively. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for August 19. Johnson-Carson was due for an initial court appearance on Friday, while Williamson’s hearing date was not listed. All four defendants remained in custody as of Friday morning, with no immediate responses from attorneys representing Erickson and Turner. Legal representatives for Williamson and Johnson-Carson were not listed in court records.
