PONTIAC, Mich. – A woman is facing federal charges after an allegedly illegally purchased gun was used in an Oakland County murder-suicide.
The shooting happened Oct. 30 at a Pontiac home on Marshall Street, just north of Osumn Street.
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First responders found 33-year-old Latrece Shanna Harper dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Police said she had gunshot residue on her right hand, suggesting she grabbed the barrel of the gun when it was fired.
Her boyfriend, 41-year-old Clifford Torrell Noel Jr., was found dead in a car shortly after with an alleged self-inflicted gunshot.
The sheriff’s office said the couple had been in a relationship for about 10 years and had five children together.
According to an affidavit, Victoria Green purchased the gun at a pawnshop in Waterford with Noel Jr. earlier that day. Surveillance footage from the shop reportedly showed Noel Jr. with a large amount of cash speaking with a salesman about guns while Green stood back and did nothing.
When Noel Jr. selected a gun, Green allegedly purchased it and filled out federal paperwork stating she was the buyer and was not planning to transfer the weapon to anyone else.
The gun was purchased with cash before Noel Jr. reportedly purchased ammunition.
Noel Jr. and Harper were found dead hours later.
Authorities believe Green knew Noel Jr. was prohibited from possessing firearms and accepted cash and, reportedly, marijuana in exchange for buying the rifle for him.
When police found Noel Jr.’s body, he reportedly had the gun purchased in the pawn shop earlier that day in his lap. The sales documentation was also in the car with him.
Ballistic evidence also linked the gun to Harper’s death.
Authorities reportedly uncovered text messages sent from Noel Jr. to Green for helping him get a gun.
When ATF questioned Green on Nov. 14, she reportedly admitted completing the purchase and transferring the gun to Noel Jr., who she knew was a felon and could not possess a firearm.
Green is now facing federal charges of making a false statement in connection with a firearm sale and providing a firearm to a prohibited person.
If convicted, Green faces the posibility of 20 years in jail.