‘That’s what you get for messing with me’
Background: The Parkersburg, W.Va., neighborhood where Claudia Torres allegedly shot Austin Lamb on Feb. 27 (Google Maps). Inset: Claudia Torres (Parkersburg Police Department).
A West Virginia woman allegedly told police she shot her friend three times after he attempted to “grope” her.
Claudia Torres, 19, was arrested shortly after midnight on February 28 in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Austin Lamb. The Parkersburg Police Department said in a Facebook post that Torres was located about a mile from the home where Lamb was found dead of gunshot wounds and was taken into custody.
According to court documents obtained by WTAP, Torres called 911 herself, telling dispatchers, “This guy who I thought was my friend tried to grope me… he tried to grope me… so I shot him three times.” Police said she made similar statements to officers while being transported to the police department.
Court records indicate officers found Lamb slumped on a couch with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite medics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Two witnesses who went to a bar with Torres and Lamb on the night of February 27 told police the pair argued on their way home. Once at the residence, Lamb went inside while Torres stayed by her truck.
Torres then allegedly entered the home and fired several shots at Lamb before leaving. Police said another witness saw her fire once more before fleeing in a purple Dodge Ram. Surveillance footage reportedly confirmed the witnesses’ accounts. Witnesses outside the home told police they heard Torres say, “That’s what you get for messing with me.”
Authorities found Torres at a nearby gas station and detained her without incident.
Torres appeared in court for the first time on March 4 and was ordered to remain in custody without bond. She faces charges of first-degree murder, with her next court appearance scheduled for March 10.
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