The family of a 24-year-old male from Ferndale, Michigan, who died last week following an altercation with security guards at a local shopping mall plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the mall security company, reports CBS Detroit.
According to the source, the incident began when the victim, McKenzie Cochran, allegedly threatened the owner of a jewelry store called LA Diamonds. Mall security guards arrived to diffuse the situation and pepper-sprayed and handcuffed Cochran when he purportedly refused to cooperate. They then pushed him to the ground and held him there face down, causing him to suffocate.
The news outlet notes that a large part of the altercation was recorded on a cell phone camera, which shows Cochran pleading for help as the security guards held him down to the ground.
"When he's telling them that he's dying, he says, 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe. Call 911, I can't breathe. I'm dying,'" said Gerald Thurswell, the accident attorney representing the plaintiffs. "And they just keep that knee on his back, compressing his lungs and chest into the ground when he says he can't breathe. That's outrageous."
If one of your family members has died as a result of an individual's or business's negligent behavior and you reside in Missouri, consider finding a personal injury lawyer who will work hard on your behalf to hold responsible parties accountable for their actions. These experienced and locally based professionals can assess your claim, try your case in court and help you recover damages to which you may be entitled.