In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Columbus, Mississippi, a confrontation in a motel parking lot ended in the death of 48-year-old Odis Lee Latham. On May 31, 2020, Latham was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express. The Columbus Police Department quickly began an investigation into the shooting, which occurred at approximately 4 a.m.
Initial reports from witnesses suggested that Latham had been seen checking car door handles in the parking lot.
The situation escalated when he allegedly attempted to open the door of a vehicle that was occupied. The individual inside the car is said to have shot Latham as a result of this interaction. The investigation led to the arrest of 33-year-old Michael Guyse, who was subsequently charged with manslaughter in connection with Latham's death. His bond was set at $75,000. Authorities at the time stated that the two men did not know each other.
The legal proceedings took a significant turn when the case was presented to a grand jury. The grand jury ultimately chose not to indict Michael Guyse on the manslaughter charge. Following this decision, Guyse filed a lawsuit against the city of Columbus, alleging that he had been unlawfully arrested. In his defense, Guyse claimed that he had acted in self-defense under Mississippi's castle doctrine, stating that he feared for his life after Latham entered his vehicle following attempts to break into other cars in the parking lot. This civil lawsuit was later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
