Oakland County Couple Found Dead In Murder-Suicide: Sheriff

PONTIAC, MI — A Pontiac couple was found dead Thursday in a murder-suicide, sheriff's officials said.

Officers found 33-year-old Latrece Shanna Harper shot to death inside her Pontiac home in the 300 block of S. Marshall St. at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, sheriff's officials said.

She was first discovered by her stepdaughter, who had gone to check on her, sheriff's officials said.

Roughly 15 minutes later, Bloomfield Township officers found Harper’s boyfriend, 41-year-old Clifford Torrell Noel Jr. suffering from a gunshot inside a car on Square Lake Road near Telegraph Road, sheriff's officials said.

Investigators said he was slumped over behind the wheel of the car from a self-inflicted shot from an AR-15 style rifle. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, sheriff's officials said.

Investigators said Harper and Noel had been together for roughly 10 years. They believe Noel shot Harper during an argument before taking his own life.

Officials said five children, who ranged in age from 4 to 15, lived with the couple inside the home. Investigators said they were not home at the time of the shooting and were found unharmed in a Rochester Hills motel. They were turned over to Child Protective Services, sheriff's officials said.

"It breaks my heart when relationships turn violent," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "If you're in an abusive one, get help. There are people and groups ready to guide you to safety."