Have you ever wanted to be TikTok famous so badly that you’d kill for it? That’s what 18-year-old Zachary Latham has been accused of after an altercation with his neighbours resulted in the death of 51-year-old William Durham.

In a bizarre case, both Latham and Durham’s surviving family are facing charges for their roles in the killing of the correctional officer, which happened in New Jersey on May 4.

As both parties await trial, Dazed outlines the reason behind the feud, what happened on the fateful day of Durham’s death, and how TikTok comes into it.

WHY WAS LATHAM FEUDING WITH THE DURHAM FAMILY?

In 2018, 16-year-old Latham moved into his grandparents’ house in the New Jersey city of Vineland, and quickly caught the attention of the Durham family due to his “reckless driving”. After William Durham complained to Latham’s family, the teenager went over to his house to apologise, but reportedly continued to drive erratically. As reported by The New York Times, tensions dissipated for a while, but came to a head again in April this year. 

A month before the killing, on April 6, Latham recorded himself embroiled in an argument with William’s wife Catherine, in which the teen continuously refers to her as “Karen” (the name given to middle-aged white women who support Trump, and call the police on innocent Black people). The clip racked up over three million views on Latham’s TikTok account, and saw commenters suggest he cut her tyres, egg her house, and “go after her”. Days later, Latham pulled up to the Durham family’s house and shouted, “Hey Karen, we went viral!”

A second video posted to Latham’s TikTok on April 14 shows one of Catherine’s sons confronting the teen. The clip’s caption reads: “Karen’s son found out the video went viral and tried taking me out of the car. Blow this up for part three.” The video got more than 159,000 views.

The Durham family reportedly sought help from the Vineland police department several times, but were told they couldn’t file a complaint because the courts were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Others in the neighbourhood had also contacted the police about Latham’s behaviour.

HOW DID WILLIAM DURHAM DIE?

On May 4, the Durham family confronted Latham after he supposedly swerved his truck at their 17-year-old son (Latham asserts he honked his horn, but did not swerve at the boy, who was riding his bike). In retaliation, William pulled his truck into the street to block Latham’s, before Catherine recorded herself challenging the teen over the incident involving her son. According to local news site NJ, video footage shows Latham “swatting (Catherine’s) hand away as she records and driving off toward his house”. The Durham family claim he actually struck Catherine in the face and chest.

The Durham’s followed Latham to his house and found him armed with a stun gun and two knives. On their arrival, Latham’s wife Sarah – who was recording on her phone – reportedly told the family: “I promise you, you better back up because you’re not going to like what’s coming out.” Despite being warned by both Latham and his wife to “get off the property”, the Durham family continued to approach, before Latham fired his stun gun and swung a knife at one of the sons.

As reported by The New York Times, William then “grabbed” at Latham who “slashed him in the right arm with a knife” before retreating into his garage, followed by his friends and William. The latter was then stabbed multiple times, including fatally “under the armpit, puncturing his lung”.

WHERE DOES TIKTOK COME INTO IT?

In a letter seen by NJ, the Durham family’s attorneys said Latham’s wife was recording the incident “because it was her and Latham’s intent to post these videos to TikTok and become ‘TikTok famous’”. The Durham family claim they were deliberately lured to Latham’s house via the earlier confrontation with their son, in order for Latham to carry out an attack for social media clout. Latham, however, asserts the killing happened in self-defence.

The Durham family’s attorneys dispute this. “If Latham was in fear for his or Sarah’s safety, they both would have retreated inside, called police, and stayed there,” they wrote. “They did not because their intent was to lure the Durhams there, attack them, and record it for TikTok.”

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Latham has been charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, and weapons offences, while Catherine and her sons have been charged with assault and trespassing. The Durham’s lawyers are fighting for the charges against the family to be dropped, and urging the court to charge Latham with first-degree murder, as well as file charges against his wife, and two friends who joined the fight.

Latham was released from jail in May, pending trial later this year. In a letter responding to the Durham’s attorneys, the prosecutor, Jennifer Webb-McRae, said there was no plan to drop the charges against the family.