LANSING – Today, former private security guards John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree were found not guilty by an Oakland County jury of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran at Northland Mall, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
On January 28, 2014, Cochran, 25, of Ferndale reportedly told the owner of a jewelry store within Northland Mall that “he wanted to kill someone.” Two security guards responded to the store owner's call for assistance. When Cochran approached the guards with clenched fists, one guard maced him and both attempted to restrain him. Three additional security guards responded and took part in handcuffing Cochran.
Video evidence shows Cochran remained face down with his arms under his body while five security guards restrained him. Witnesses at the mall and subsequent interviews with the involved guards reported hearing Cochran say he couldn’t breathe during the restraint.
Once handcuffed, the guards noticed Cochran was unresponsive and contacted EMS. Attempts to revive him at the mall were unsuccessful. Cochran was declared deceased shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Several months following his death in September 2014, Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper declined to bring criminal charges against any of the involved guards. In early 2020, Cochran’s family requested that the newly installed Southfield Police Department chief take a second look at the case. The matter was then referred to the Department of Attorney General.
“While today's verdict is not what we had hoped for," said Nessel, "I am grateful for the dedicated work of the prosecutors and investigators in my office who worked tirelessly in pursuit of long-awaited answers on behalf of Mr. Cochran’s family.”
A fourth security guard, Lucius Hamilton, pled guilty earlier this month to one count of involuntary manslaughter. The initial guard who engaged with Cochran died in 2017.
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