Claudia Torres, 19, faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting her friend Austin Lamb dead in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Police reports indicate the incident followed an argument and Torres's claim that Lamb tried to grope her. Torres called 911 herself to report the shooting.
The fatal shooting occurred on the night of February 27, 2024, in a Parkersburg neighborhood. According to court documents, Torres and Lamb, 28, had been at a bar with two witnesses. On the way home, the pair argued. Upon returning, Lamb entered the residence while Torres went to her truck. She then entered the home and fired multiple shots at Lamb, who was found slumped on a couch with gunshot wounds. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene despite efforts to save him.
Torres reportedly fired one additional shot outside before driving away in her purple Dodge Ram. Surveillance video corroborated witness accounts. One witness outside the home heard Torres say, "That's what you get for messing with me."
Torres called 911, 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." She repeated similar statements to officers during transport after her arrest. Police located her about a mile away at a gas station and detained her without incident shortly after midnight on February 28.
Torres appeared in court on March 4 and was ordered held without bond. Her next appearance is set for March 10. The Parkersburg Police Department announced the arrest via Facebook.