PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - More than 10 years after McKenzie Cochran died after being maced and restrained by security guards at the now-shuttered Northland Mall, three people are on trial.
Opening statements and witness testimony started Monday, with more witnesses expected to take the stand Tuesday.
Watch live above. Court is scheduled to resume at 1:45 p.m.
John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree were charged with involuntary manslaughter after the 2014 death was reviewed years later. A fourth guard charged with the death, Lucius Hamilton, pleaded guilty, and a fifth guard died before charges were filed.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Cochran, 25, of Ferndale, allegedly told the owner of a jewelry store at Northland Mall that "he wanted to kill someone" on Jan. 28, 2014.
Two security guards responded to the store after the owner called for security assistance. When Cochran approached the guards with clenched fists, one guard maced him and both attempted to restrain him to the ground. Three additional security guards responded and took part in the restraint in order to handcuff Cochran, authorities said.
Video showed that Cochran remained face down with his arms under his body while the five security guards restrained him. Witnesses at the mall, and subsequent interviews with the guards involved, reported hearing Cochran say he couldn’t breathe while he was on the ground.
McKenzie Cochran
Once handcuffed, the guards noticed Cochran was unresponsive and contacted EMS.
Cochran was declared dead at a nearby hospital shortly after.
Then-Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper declined to press charges after the death, saying that there was no criminal intent.
In early 2020, Cochran’s family requested the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office review the case. It was then referred to the AG's office. The Public Integrity Unit (PIU) conducted additional work, interviewed additional witnesses, and obtained additional evidence that led to the charges against Hamilton, Seiberling, King, and Maree.
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3 guards stand trial in death at Northland Mall
Three security guards are on trial for the 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran at Northland Mall in Southfield. Charges were brought against four men after the case was reviewed years after the fact.