Current:Home > reviewsWitness recalls man struggling to breathe before dying at guards’ hands in Michigan mall-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Witness recalls man struggling to breathe before dying at guards’ hands in Michigan mall
how to verify account on lotradecoin View Date:2024-12-26 03:15:25
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A man held on the ground by security guards at a Detroit-area shopping mall repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe,” before the confrontation ended with his death, a witness testified Tuesday, more than 10 years later.
McKenzie Cochran, 25, was crying out at Northland Center in Southfield in 2014 as guards struggled to handcuff him and told him repeatedly to “stop resisting,” said Hoy Monk II, who worked at a Foot Locker store.
Three guards — John Seiberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree — are charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Besides hearing from Monk on the second day of trial, jurors also saw a dark, grainy video of the confrontation as well as video recorded by onlookers.
It began when Cochran had refused to leave the mall, following tension with a jewelry store owner. A guard pepper-sprayed Cochran, who was subsequently wrestled to the ground.
The conflict escalated to include five guards who worked to restrain Cochran, despite him saying at least three times that he couldn’t breathe, Monk said.
By the time Cochran was handcuffed and moved upright, “I could see his face, and his eyes were closed,” Monk testified.
Assistant Attorney General Robyn Liddell asked if the guards had yielded to Cochran’s pleas to get off him.
“No,” Monk replied.
Cochran, who had an enlarged heart, died.
One of the five guards pleaded guilty last week. Gary Chaffin, who was the senior guard and pepper sprayed Cochran, died in 2017.
Monk saw the confrontation while taking a break on a bench. During cross-examination, he agreed when a defense lawyer said fights, shoplifting and drug use were common in the mall at the time.
“You’re used to seeing peculiar things at Northland,” Monk said.
At the start of trial, defense attorneys urged jurors Monday to look at each guard individually. They said Cochran was seen as a volatile threat.
In 2014, the Oakland County prosecutor at the time declined to file charges, saying any mistakes didn’t rise to the level of a crime. But Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stepped in with her own charges in 2021.
Northland was demolished that year to make way for redevelopment.
___
Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez
veryGood! (68)
Related
- Emily in Paris' Ashley Park Reveals How Lily Collins Predicted Her Relationship With Costar Paul Forman
- NHL tracker: Hurricanes-Lightning game in Tampa postponed due to Hurricane Milton
- NCAA pilot study finds widespread social media harassment of athletes, coaches and officials
- While Dodgers are secretive for Game 5, Padres just want to 'pop champagne'
- Ranking MLB jersey advertisements: Whose patch is least offensive?
- Opinion: It's more than just an NFL lawsuit settlement – Jim Trotter actually won
- Yes, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Mayor of Rome Are Fighting Over Emily in Paris
- Sebastian Stan became Trump by channeling 'Zoolander,' eating 'a lot of sushi'
- Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera
- Tech CEO Justin Bingham Dead at 40 After 200-Ft. Fall at National Park in Utah
Ranking
- Get 10 free boneless wings with your order at Buffalo Wild Wings: How to get the deal
- Guy Gansert of 'Golden Bachelorette' speaks out as ex-wife's restraining order request is revealed
- Taylor Swift donates $5 million toward hurricane relief efforts
- Fans of Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine's Idea of You Need This Update
- 'Love Island UK' stars Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury announce split after 5 years
- California man, woman bought gold bars to launder money in $54 million Medicare fraud: Feds
- Coats worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, fashion icon and JFK Jr.'s wife, to be auctioned
- Police seize $500,000 of fentanyl concealed in carne asada beef at California traffic stop
Recommendation
-
A stowaway groundhog is elevated to local icon
-
Guardians tame Tigers to force winner-take-all ALDS Game 5
-
Polling Shows Pennsylvania Voters Are Divided on Fracking
-
Third-party candidate Cornel West loses bid to get on Pennsylvania’s presidential ballot
-
Anchorage police shoot, kill teenage girl who had knife; 6th police shooting in 3 months
-
Shelter-in-place ordered for 2 east Texas cities after chemical release kills 1 person
-
Lizzo Breaks Down What She Eats in a Day Amid Major Lifestyle Change
-
Polling Shows Pennsylvania Voters Are Divided on Fracking