Mall Death Witness: I Heard Him Say 'I Can't Breathe'

A witness testified Tuesday that McKenzie Cochran, who died in a confrontation with security guards at Northland Center in Southfield in 2014, repeatedly said, "I can't breathe." This startling revelation came from Hoy Monk II, who worked at a Foot Locker store and observed the incident. The three guards involved in the incident—John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree—are currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter.

Jurors were shown a dark, grainy video of the encounter, which started when Cochran refused to leave the mall after a dispute with a jewelry store owner. The situation escalated when a guard pepper-sprayed Cochran, leading to a struggle involving five guards to restrain Cochran, despite his repeated cries for breath. "By the time Cochran was handcuffed and moved upright, I could see his face, and his eyes were closed," Monk testified. Cochran, who had an enlarged heart, eventually succumbed to the circumstances.

Assistant Attorney General Robyn Liddell questioned Monk about whether the guards responded to Cochran's pleas. Monk confirmed they did not. One guard has already pleaded guilty, and the senior guard involved, Gary Chaffin, passed away in 2017. The defense urged jurors to consider the guards and their actions individually and said Cochran was perceived as a volatile threat. The Oakland County prosecutor initially declined to file charges in 2014, but Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reopened the case in 2021. Northland Center was demolished in 2021 for redevelopment. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)