The tragic killing of social justice activist Michael Latt by Jameelah Elena Michl has brought to light a series of ominous warnings and a complex web of connections among those involved. According to court documents, Michl, a 36-year-old homeless woman, had sent threatening messages earlier this year, indicating that she possessed a loaded firearm.
In a chilling message to filmmaker A.V. Rockwell, a friend of Latt’s, Michl wrote, “My Glock is loaded as I write this. One pull of the trigger, and I’ll be free.” This was part of several lengthy, threatening communications that led Rockwell to seek a restraining order against Michl. According to The Associated Press, Michl had also threatened to shoot herself in Griffith Park, which is located about five miles from Latt’s Mid-Wilshire apartment.
On Monday, Michl allegedly forced her way into Latt’s $800,000 condominium and fatally shot him with a semiautomatic handgun around 6 p.m. At the time of the incident, another individual was present but escaped unharmed. Authorities confirmed that Rockwell was not present during the attack. Latt’s fiancée was among those who lived in the apartment, neighbors reported.
Michl was apprehended at the scene, and Latt was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Prosecutors suggest that Michl targeted Latt due to his close friendship with Rockwell. Michl, who had worked on Rockwell’s award-winning film “A Thousand And One,” had been living out of her car, which was seized as evidence by the police.
Earlier messages from Michl to Rockwell, detailed in court documents, reveal growing animosity and frustration. In one such message from April, Michl wrote, “As you continue to bask in the glory of ‘A Thousand and One,’ I want you to remember, and not forget all the hell that people went through to help bring your masterpiece to the screen.”
Charged with murder, burglary, and unlawful use of a firearm, Michl is being held on $3 million bail and is due for arraignment on December 15. If convicted, she faces a potential life sentence.
Latt, 33, was the CEO and CFO of Lead With Love, a marketing firm he founded with a mission to support influential women and artists of color through storytelling and art. His work included contributions to films such as “Fruitvale Station” and “Till.” Known for his dedication to progressive social justice causes, Latt had been an active supporter of movements against police violence and racial inequality, participating in Black Lives Matter protests and advocating for lasting social change.
Michael Latt hailed from a prominent Hollywood family, with his mother Michelle Satter being a founding director at the Sundance Institute, his father a producer, and his brother a top talent agent at CAA. His sudden death has not only shocked his family and friends but also resonated deeply within the activist community he passionately supported.
