Detroit Mall Guards Face Trial in Man’s 2014 Death

Three security guards are due to face trial this week after being accused of killing a man more than ten years ago in a shopping mall in suburban Detroit, The Associated Press reported.

Onlookers said McKenzie Cochran, 25, was pinned to the ground during a struggle following a dispute at a jewelry store inside the Northland Center in 2014.

They said the unarmed man, who was black, repeatedly told guards, “I can’t breathe,” while facing toward the floor.

At the time, the Oakland County prosecutor consulted with the U.S. Justice Department but did not file charges.

But in 2021 Michigan Attorney, General Dana Nessel, filed involuntary manslaughter charges against four men.

Cochran’s case received renewed attention in 2020 amid outrage over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was pinned to the ground by Minneapolis police.

Prosecutors have not alleged race to be a factor in Cochran’s death.

But they accused the guards of using excessive force by restraining Cochran while he lay face down on the floor for up to 15 minutes.

Cochran, who had an enlarged heart, died of asphyxiation, according to an autopsy.

Defense attorney Blake Wright said the charges were politically motivated.

He told AP: “This clearly stems from what happened with George Floyd and police misconduct across the nation. This case is just totally different from any of those. These are security guards just trying to subdue a guy who had mental health problems.”

One of the four, Lucius Hamilton, pleaded guilty on Friday. He will be sentenced in October.

The remaining guards facing trial are John Seiberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree.

In court filings, defense lawyers said the men acted in self-defense.

They said the owner of a jewelry store called mall security to report Cochran was “acting crazy” and had threatened to kill somebody.

And that Seiberling and a senior guard, Gary Chaffin, told Cochran to leave the mall, but he did not comply.

According to the files, Cochran rushed toward Chaffin, who sprayed him with pepper spray. Prosecutors acknowledge Cochran “actively resisted” the guards and was “overpowering” them.

Three more guards arrived and all five ended up on the floor with him.

Cochran was motionless with his wrists in handcuffs behind his back when Southfield police showed up.

Chaffin is not part of the case; he died three years later in 2017.

A former Detroit-area medical examiner, Dr. Carl Schmidt, is expected to be a witness for prosecutors.

He reviewed autopsy records and said Cochran’s death probably should be classified as a homicide.

Jury selection starts on Monday.