A homeless woman has been arrested on a murder charge after she allegedly fatally shot a man whose Mid-Wilshire home she had broken into Monday night.
The shooting was reported at about 6 p.m. in the 900 block of Alandele Avenue, and when officers arrived, they found 33-year-old Michael Latt had been shot.
Latt was transported to a local hospital where he died a few hours later, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Jameelah Elena Michl, 36, remained at the scene and was taken into custody as the suspected shooter, police said.
Neighbors were stunned to learn of the shooting and said they couldn’t believe something like this happened on their block.
“I’m heartbroken, I’m shocked,” said Avarie Shevin, Latt’s next-door neighbor. “I was looking out my window and saw a female standing in the walkway with her hands up and they took her into custody.”
Shevin said she didn’t hear any gunshots, but noticed loud sirens and a police helicopter outside her home. She soon realized Latt was the man who always greeted her warmly whenever they crossed paths in the courtyard.
“He is a super sweet guy,” Shevin said. “He and his girlfriend lived there with a dog and a cat. He’s just very mellow. I can’t wrap my brain around what could’ve happened that caused him to be shot and killed. I keep picturing his face and I cannot believe he has passed.”
According to police, the suspect may have been living inside her car which is now being processed as evidence.
The events leading up to the shooting remain unknown and it’s unclear whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
“It was really weird because I didn’t hear anything,” Shevin recalled. “Like, no gunshot. No arguing, nothing, and it’s the kind of thing where if there’s a gunshot a mile away, I will hear it. So how did I not hear it right there?”
Michl was booked for murder and is being held on $3 million bail. Jail records obtained by KTLA indicated that she did not have a criminal history.
Information on her next court appearance was not available.
Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 213-382-9470. During non-business hours and on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).
To submit information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.