35 years to life imprisonment: Film extra who killed Michael Latt

A film extra who admitted to shooting entertainment marketing consultant and social activist Michael Latt was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison on Wednesday.

Jameelah Michl shot Latt in his Los Angeles home on November 27.

Michl, 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree burglary during a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court last month. She also admitted to using a firearm in the attack, court records show.

Prosecutors said Michl did not know Latt but targeted him because of his friendship with a woman she was stalking. Michl was armed with a semi-automatic pistol when she knocked on the door of Latt’s home in the 900 block of Alandele Avenue, forced her way in and shot him.

Latt, 33, was taken to a hospital where he died.

“Today marks the end of a deeply painful chapter for Mr. Latt’s family, friends, and our entire community,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. “A tireless advocate for social justice, Mr. Latt fought for equity, justice, and equality in our criminal justice system. Mr. Latt’s ability to empower the community has left an indelible mark. His legacy will continue to inspire us to work toward a more just and inclusive society.”

Latt was the managing director of Lead With Love, an entertainment marketing consultancy he founded in 2019 with a focus on elevating Black creatives and other underrepresented voices in Hollywood.

Authorities say Latt’s killing was the culmination of a series of threats by Michl, who had been stalking film director AV Rockwell. Michl had worked as an extra on Rockwell’s film “A Thousand and One” and was obsessed with the director, according to court documents.

At first, the attempts at interaction seemed harmless. She sent Rockwell a gift box when production on the film wrapped in 2021. When the film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival a year later, Michl emailed one of the film’s producers saying she thought highly of Rockwell and the film.

But Michl’s admiration for the director took a dark turn in emails over the next few months. When Rockwell didn’t respond, Michl emailed her saying she was going to kill herself and told Rockwell she owned a gun.

The emails prompted Rockwell to seek a temporary restraining order against Michl in June 2023. Rockwell wrote in court documents: “Panic attacks caused by anxiety and fear for my safety have resulted in my inability to return to work. Your messages have disrupted my professional relationships.”

Rockwell and Latt attended Sundance in January 2023 and took photos together. Latt posted one on Instagram with the caption: “Congratulations to @AVRockwell on your incredible feature film directorial debut, A Thousand and One.”

Editors Noah Goldberg and Richard Winton contributed to this report