Article Originally Published Here
PONTIAC, Mich. — The trial of three security guards charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran began on Monday, over a decade after the incident occurred at Northland Center Mall in suburban Detroit.
Cochran, 25, died of asphyxiation after a physical altercation with security guards. According to prosecutors, Cochran repeatedly told the guards, “I can’t breathe,” while being restrained on the floor for 11 minutes. Despite his pleas, the guards reportedly ignored his cries for help.
The Struggle That Led to Cochran’s Death
Assistant Attorney General Robyn Liddell told the jury that Cochran, who had an enlarged heart, was pinned face-down by the guards. “For 11 minutes, McKenzie cries. For 11 minutes, McKenzie screams,” Liddell said.
The guards, John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree, now face charges of involuntary manslaughter, which could lead to a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Another guard, Lucius Hamilton, recently pleaded guilty and may face a 90-day jail sentence.
A Case Revived by Calls for Justice
The Oakland County prosecutor initially declined to file charges in 2014. However, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reopened the case in 2021, citing fresh attention on racial justice issues, particularly after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Cochran resisted the guards’ attempts to subdue him but argued that the guards’ response was excessive. Defense attorneys urged jurors to consider each guard’s individual role in the incident, emphasizing that some of them had minimal involvement in the physical restraint.
The case has resurfaced due to growing demands for accountability in cases involving excessive force, even as significant time has passed since the incident.
