Video shows chaos erupt inside Hamilton County courthouse after suspect takes plea deal
By: -----
Hamilton County, OH - Chaos erupted inside a Hamilton County courthouse this week after a suspect's plea deal led to a confrontation between families.
The chaotic incident surrounded a plea deal in the murder case of 17-year-old Edwin "Myzell" Arrington.
Arrington was killed on New Year's Day 2024.
Latrelle Rogers, charged with murder, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 to 17 years in prison.
Body camera video shows a man waiting outside the courtroom and attempt to strike the suspect and a crowd gathers, prompting officers to intervene.
Video also shows deputies respond to break up the crowd.
Shamicka Arrington, the victim's mother, expressed her discontent with the plea deal, saying, "He shot my son 5 times in the back. My son was actually trying to get away from him and instead of just letting my son try and run away from him, he decided to kill him," she said. Shamicka was emotional about the plea deal, questioning, "It was like manslaughter, how? My son was shot 5 times. How?"
Adding to the emotional atmosphere, Shamicka described how Rogers looked at her family during the hearing.
"He smiled at me. He looked at me and he smiled. And my reaction was to get up, push the courtroom doors and walk out," she said.
Tensions escalated further after the hearing as deputies escorted Rogers out of the courtroom.
Shamicka recounted, "When they brought him out, my relative did attack him."
Witnesses described the scene on the fifth floor as chaotic, with people running, shouting, and pushing courtroom doors.
"It was more than a confrontation. It was way more than a confrontation," Shamicka said.
Deputies called for backup, and a sheriff's office spokesperson stated that while they were not aware of physical interactions, three people were cited for disorderly conduct, including Shamicka's other son, whom she insists did nothing wrong.
A spokesperson for the prosecutors' office explained the decision behind the plea deal: "In every criminal trial, there are inherent risks. Our office carefully weighed the evidence in the Latrell Rogers case and determined that the best chance for a just outcome was the plea as presented in Court. The defendant received the maximum sentence available for the offenses that he pled guilty to, leading to a sentence of 12-17.5 years, which we believe protects the community for as long as possible, given the inherent risks associated with trial."