New Jersey Man Fatally Stabs Corrections Officer In Ongoing Family Feud

Police are charging an 18-year-old man from South Jersey with aggravated manslaughter after he stabbed his 51-year-old neighbor to death Monday, May 4.

The suspect, Zachary Latham, was arrested by Vineland, New Jersey police after the fatal stabbing of his neighbor and corrections officer William Durham, Sr.

Officers say the families were in an ongoing feud at Thornhill Road. The verbal argument late Monday night turned violent, resulting in Durham’s death.

Latham told police that the argument started in front of the Durham home between himself and his wife, and Durham and his wife Catherine. He then drove away from the scene to his home nearby.

Mike Gallagher, a friend of Durhham's, told NJ.com that Latham began to harass the family online when he allegedly cursed Catherine out after she told him to slow down when he sped down their street a few weeks back.

Gallagher also alleged that Latham swerved towards one of Durham’s kids on Monday and punched Catherine, starting the dispute.

The suspect claimed that he could see Durham and his two sons, a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old, following him to his house.

He then confronted the family with a knife and a stun gun as they arrived on his property. The knife was described as a four-inch fixed blade.

A second altercation occurred in Latham’s driveway and moved into Latham’s garage. During the incident, Durham received several stab wounds on his back and left arm. Latham’s wife recorded a video of the incident that is being used by police as evidence.

Vineland police responded to a call about the incident around 7:48PM. Durhan was pronounced dead by 9:19PM according to police records. Latham was treated for injuries he sustained during the altercation at Atlantic City Medical Center and was subsequently held in Cumberland County Jail.

Police charged Latham with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.

Durham’s wife was charged with one count of criminal trespassing and one count of simple assault. Durham’s sons were each charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of criminal trespassing.

Durham was a 19-year veteran of the New Jersey corrections department and worked at South Woods State Prison at the time of his death.