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Vineland man not guilty in TikTok fight killing of corrections officer neighbor

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A jury acquitted a Vineland man accused of fatally stabbing his neighbor in a fight sparked by TikTok videos of the man's wife.

Zachary Latham, 20, was charged with reckless manslaughter in the killing of William Durham Sr., 51.

Known as Timmy to friends, the 19-year veteran corrections officer at South Woods State Prison had gone to Latham's home after an incident hours earlier outside the Durhams' home down the street.

The battle had been brewing for weeks, after Latham posted a video of Durham's wife online and it went viral.

A friend of Durham's said at the time that "he died a hero defending his family."

But a jury found Latham not guilty, backing the defense's assertions that the then-18-year-old was defending himself when he stabbed his neighbor during a fight in Latham's garage.

CourtTV dubbed it the "Nasty Neighbor Stabbing Trial."

Latham looked surprised as the verdict was read, thanking his attorney and wiping his eyes.

The fatal altercation May 4, 2020, was captured on video by Latham's wife.

"I promise you, you better back up because you're not going to like what's coming out," she's heard staying as Durham's sons arrive on bicycles.

Then their father arrives in his truck.

While the woman tells them to get off her property, Durham continues. Then the battle begins as the camera shakes and captures parts as it moves around with Latham's wife screaming throughout.

(The video can be viewed on CourtTV. WARNING it is graphic.)

Video is what sparked the initial bad blood between the two sides, as Latham posted videos to TikTok targeting Durham's wife.

On April 6, 2020, Tiffany Durham was the focus of what would be Latham's most popular TikTok post by far.

“You OK, Karen?” he asks as he videos the woman, calling her by the name that has garnered popularity as an insult.

He continues to mock her from inside his sports car, one of several he shares on his page.

Then he shows police cars behind him: “Three cop cars, all because my car is loud,” he says.

The video had gotten more than 3.1 million views at the time.

Latham also had an arrest in Florida while on release in this case.

In January 2021, he was accused of using his car as a weapon.

A motorist in Fort Myers flagged down a trooper saying another driver brandished a firearm at him and then tried to ram his vehicle with their car.

Latham was later stopped, and an airsoft BB gun was found in his car, according to the report.

He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with intent to commit a felony.

Latham, who was apparently living in Naples, Florida, at the time, was freed on $40,000 bond.

It was not immediately clear where that case stands.

author

Lynda Cohen

Lynda Cohen founded BreakingAC after working as a local newspaper reporter for more than two decades. She is an NJPA award-winner and was a Stories of Atlantic City fellow.

Saturday, May 18, 2024
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