Accused Killer Released After Being Found Not Guilty in Screwdriver Stabbing at Oklahoma Casino

Posted on: January 23, 2025, 07:46h. 

Last updated on: January 24, 2025, 08:59h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The man who was put on trial for a 2024 Choctaw Casino and Resort – Durant killing was found not guilty this week by an Oklahoma jury.

Antonio Latham
Antonio Latham, pictured above in a mug shot, was released after a jury found him not guilty in the death of a man at a casino. (Image: Byran County Sheriff’s Office)

After hearing the jury’s decision on Tuesday, a judge ordered that Antonio Latham, 20, of Gunter, Texas, be set free.

Victim Stabbed With Screwdriver

Latham was charged with murder after the victim was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver while in the parking garage at the Durant, Okla. casino complex, according to Oklahoma TV station KTEN.

Phillip Wingfield, 51, died from the attack. Latham was seen on surveillance video stabbing the man, police claimed.

The two men had gotten into a dispute before the stabbing and were pushing each other before the confrontation escalated. The victim and Latham were acquainted before the deadly attack, according to a statement from the Choctaw Nation.

Wingfield was seriously injured in the assault. EMTs gave him emergency treatment for his head injuries, but he soon passed away.

Latham was arrested for murder on June 9, 2024.

Charge Reduced

Recently, the murder charge was reduced to a count of first-degree manslaughter. Manslaughter is a less severe charge and is considered easier to prove in court.

Days ago, the trial began with jurors hearing evidence. Attorneys on both sides offered opening and closing statements, too. The judge also gave the jurors instructions.

The jurors returned the verdict after closed-door deliberations at the Bryan County courthouse. They likely considered physical evidence, testimony from witnesses, and legal definitions of manslaughter under Oklahoma law.

If Latham was found guilty, he could have faced many years in prison.

The death was investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations after officers from the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police responded to the crime scene. An autopsy was performed on the victim by the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner to confirm the cause and manner of death.

Choctaw Casino and Resort – Durant is located 46 miles north of Gunter, Texas. It’s a large gaming property with 7,400 slot machines, over 100 table games, and a poker room. There also are 20 restaurants. The 21-story Sky Tower has 1,000 guest rooms.

The tribal gaming property is operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.