Lansing, MI - On May 17, 2023, former private security guards Lucius Hamilton, John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree were bound over to the Oakland County Circuit Court in connection with the 2014 death of MacKenzie Cochran at the Northland Mall to face one count each of Involuntary Manslaughter, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
"It has been clear through our review of this case that justice would require criminal charges and a trial,” says Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “I am grateful for the efforts of the family of MacKenzie Cochran, and the diligent work of the prosecutors in my department, to bring this case to trial despite the intervening years.”
Hamilton, Seiberling, King, and Maree appeared May 17, 2023 before Judge Shelia Johnson in the 46th District Court in Southfield. Each faces one count each of involuntary manslaughter, a fifteen-year felony.
On January 28th, 2014, MacKenzie 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 owners call 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.
Video evidence shows 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 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 Sept. 2014, the Oakland County Prosecutor declined to bring criminal charges against any of the involved guards. In early 2020, Cochran’s family requested the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office take a second look at the case who then referred it to the Department of Attorney General. As part of the Department’s review, its Public Integrity Unit (PIU) conducted additional work, interviewed additional witnesses and obtained additional evidence leading to the charges.
A fifth security guard – who was the initial guard who engaged with Cochran – died in 2017.
Hamilton, Seiberling, King, and Maree will appear next before the Oakland County Circuit Court for a pre-trial conference at a date not yet determined.