A tragic end came to a decade-long relationship in Pontiac, where Latrece Shanna Harper, 33, and her boyfriend, Clifford Torrell Noel Jr., 41, were found dead in what law enforcement officials are calling an apparent murder-suicide. ClickOnDetroit reports Harper was discovered by her stepdaughter on a couch in her home around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, killed by a gunshot wound to her head. Shortly thereafter, Noel was found by Bloomfield Township police, slumped over the steering wheel of a car with a self-inflicted gun wound from an AR-style rifle.
While the couple has left behind five children, they were not present at the home during the tragic incident, ranging in ages from four to 15. They were later found unharmed in a Rochester Hills motel, as detailed by a report from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office cited by CBS News Detroit. Authorities believe the murder-suicide stemmed from an argument between Harper and Noel.
Detectives are piecing together the events leading up to what Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described as a heartbreaking example of domestic violence. As per Oakland County Times, Bouchard implored those in abusive relationships to seek help, saying, "It breaks my heart when relationships turn violent. If you’re in an abusive one, get help. There are people and groups ready to guide you to safety." Child Protective Services has since arranged placement for the five children.
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