California prosecutors have charged a one-time movie extra with the murder of an entertainment marketing consultant because he was a friend of the director she had been stalking and threatening since appearing in her movie.
Jameela Michl, 36, went to the home of Michael Latt on November 27 and knocked on the door, forcing her way inside when a resident opened it, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. Then she used a semi-automatic handgun to shoot Latt, who was pronounced dead at a hospital.
“Our hearts ache for the loss of a passionate advocate who believed in the principles of justice and equity within our criminal legal system,” Gascón said. “It is devastating to see a life cut short, especially one dedicated to fighting for a more just society. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that the pursuit of justice is a collective responsibility that we must all share.”
Michl has been charged with one count of murder and one count of burglary, Gascón said.
Gascón said that Michl went to Latt’s home “after she targeted him for being friends with a woman she had been stalking.”
Court documents say film director A.V. Rockwell filed a restraining order in June against Michl, who appeared in Rockwell’s debut feature film, “A Thousand And One,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in January, according to The Associated Press. Rockwell also won Breakthrough Director at the Gotham Independent Film Awards last week.
Latt posted a photo of himself and Rockwell after the Sundance Film Festival, which they both attended, congratulating Rockwell.
In court documents, Rockwell said that after she didn’t respond to Michl’s attempts to foster a personal relationship with the director, Michl began hand-delivering letters to Rockwell’s home threatening self harm.
“My Glock is loaded as I write this,” Michl wrote in one letter, the court filings said. “One pull of the trigger and I’ll be free.”
Michl sent “at least 5 extremely long and threatening emails and text messages,” the documents say, and repeatedly called Rockwell’s cell phone and tried to speak with her at public events.
“As you continue to bask in the glory of ‘A Thousand and One,’ l want you to remember, and not forget all the hell that people went through to help bring your masterpiece to the screen,” she wrote in an April 29 email.
The documents say Rockwell had the restraining order reissued on several occasions.
Latt, 33, worked with numerous filmmakers, including Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay, and rap artist Common.
“He dedicated his career to serving others, employing storytelling, art, and various mediums to create enduring change and galvanizing communities with hope, love, and inspiration,” the Sundance Institute said in a statement issued on behalf of Latt’s family. “Michael will never be forgotten and his legacy and work will carry on through his family, his friends, and his colleagues.”
Michl is being held on a $3 million bond, according to jail records, and is scheduled for arraignment on December 15, the district attorney’s office said.
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[Featured image: Michael Latt/Instagram]
