In November of 1973, 27-year-old Ernest Marshall was having relationship problems with his underaged, 16-year-old girlfriend Latitia Pierce. The two had met and started dating when she was 14, and they had a child together. This was to the disapproval of Latitia's mother, 40-year-old Mattie Pierce. On November 21, 1973, Ernest started consistently calling Latitia in the morning, trying to talk to her and work things out but she refused to speak to him. She was consistently called while at work, and eventually picked up to talk to him. Ernest told her he wanted to come to her house, and Latitia refused, but Ernest said he was going to go anyways. Later, Latitia and her mother Mattie returned to their home, 244 E 51st Pl N, along with a mutual friend named Leonard Jones. Later in the night, 3 of Ernest's friends drove him to the Pierce home. They parked outside and waited in the car while Ernest went up to the front door. Reportedly, the 3 did not have any knowledge of Ernest's intentions. Ernest stood on the porch and knocked on the front door. Meanwhile in the home, Latitia saw Ernest arriving at the home, so she woke her mother who was asleep. Mattie told Latitia to go grab her revolver, to which she did and gave it to Mattie, who put it in her robe pocket. Mattie opened the front door for Ernest upon hearing the knock, and they argued. Ernest asked if Leonard was at the home, and Mattie told him that he wasn't. Ernest said that he knew Leonard was at the home because he saw the car, and told Mattie he wanted to return shoes he borrowed from him. Ernest also argued with Mattie about trying to see him and Latitia's baby, to which he put no support for. The two were yelling at eachother, when Ernest pulled out a gun from his pocket. Witness testimonies vary, but it is said by Latitia that Ernest fired the first shot at the ground, prompting Mattie to tell her to call the police, and call Ernest crazy. Mattie pulled out her revolver and Ernest fired several shots through a screen door, fatally striking Mattie 4 or 5 times in the chest, wrist, and leg. Ernest then ran back to the car and was driven away. Police were called and Mattie was pronounced dead on scene at the entryway of the home. Ernest turned himself into police the next day, and was charged with murder. At a first trial, he was found guilty of manslaughter and given a 15 year prison term. However, a retrial was ordered as a prosecuting attorney was reported to have said slanderous or untrue remarks in a closing statement, during the first trial. At this retrial, despite the evidence, Ernest was acquitted of the manslaughter charge and freed on self-defense claims.