A homeless Los Angeles woman accused of stalking a film director and shooting her friend, a Hollywood consultant and social justice activist, to death in his home has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges.
Authorities said Jamila Elena Mihir, 36, shot and killed Michael Latt, 33, in November while searching for Latt’s friend, film director A.V. Rockwell.
Prosecutors say she knocked on the door, forced her way in when he answered and shot him in the head. Authorities say at least one other person was inside the home at the time, but Rockwell was not there.
‘My Glock is loaded,’ homeless suspect in Hollywood activist murder warned: court documents
Michelle Sutter (L), A.V. Rockwell and Michael Latt attend the “A Thousand And One” premiere during the Sundance Film Festival at the Ray Theater on January 22, 2023 in Park City, Utah. (Matt Hayward/Getty Images for Focus Features)
“My Glock is loaded” and “one pull of the trigger and I’ll be free,” she warned Rockwell in ominous letters before the shooting, according to court documents.
Rockwell sought a restraining order against Mihir last year.
The killer could face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. She is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on July 10, records show.
Michael Latt attends “A Toast to Black Art, Love, & Creativity” presented by Values Partnerships at Lume Studios on June 13, 2023 in New York City. (Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images, courtesy of Values Partnership)
Latto is a social justice activist who has worked on films that promote causes she supports and served as CEO and CFO of her own marketing company, Lead with Love. She said her goal was to “dedicate her career to service, supporting influential women and artists of color, and using storytelling, art and more to create lasting change and bring hope, love and inspiration to communities.”
Latto worked on films such as Fruitvale Station, which was set in Oakland, California. Police were involved. According to Lead with Love, he also starred in “The Remix,” a film about the 2009 shooting that killed Oscar Grant, and “Till,” a biopic about the mother of lynching victim Emmett Till. He has also worked with “Selma” director Ava DuVernay and “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler.
A homeless woman has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Michael Latt at his home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. (Google Maps)
Hollywood social justice warrior allegedly murdered by homeless woman in her own home
Latt has written on Instagram about joining Common in the Black Lives Matter protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and has also posted in support of Democratic political candidates, including Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
“Not enough change has happened since the 2020 uprisings.” He wrote June 2022. “We will continue to fight and stand against police brutality and white supremacy until we see true justice in this country.”
Michael Latt attends the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival’s “#BlackLifeBlackProtest” screening at Regal Cinema LA Live on June 11, 2015. (Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
Latto’s website features photos of him with celebrities such as rapper and actor Common, Georgia progressive Stacey Abrams, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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Latto’s mother, Michelle Sutter, a Sundance Institute executive, wrote in a letter to X that her son had been “the victim of a tragic act of violence.”
Latt comes from a family with Hollywood ties: His father, David Latt, is a film producer, and his brother is head of talent at CAA. Until the deadline.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
