Former hotel worker pleads guilty to battery charge

A former hotel worker in Milwaukee has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in connection with the death of a man last summer. Devin Johnson-Carson was one of four workers accused of killing D'Vontaye Mitchell, who died after being pinned to the ground. Johnson-Carson had originally faced a felony murder charge but reached a plea deal with prosecutors. His attorney stated that Johnson-Carson's actions were not responsible for Mitchell’s death. The District Attorney’s Office has not commented on the plea, as the case is still active. Johnson-Carson is now facing up to nine months in jail, with sentencing scheduled for September 3. The incident occurred in June 2024 when Mitchell entered the women’s bathroom in the Hyatt Hotel. After a struggle with security guards, he was pinned on the ground for eight to nine minutes. Emergency responders found him unresponsive upon arrival. An autopsy revealed that Mitchell, who had health issues and drugs in his system, died from suffocation, and his death was ruled a homicide. The other accused workers, including security guards, were also charged. Two have reached plea deals and will testify against Johnson-Carson. One will go on trial in August for felony murder. The case has drawn comparisons to the high-profile death of George Floyd, raising discussions about race and police brutality.