Kashif Parvaiz Charged With First-Degree Murder In Boonton, N.J. Shooting Death Of Wife Nazish Noorani
BOONTON N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- There were two bombshell arrests made Friday in the murder of a mother of two, who was gunned down on a quiet street earlier this week.
Kashif Parvaiz was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, 27-year-old Nazish Noorani, as she pushed their 3-year-old son in a stroller after leaving her sister's home, where they broke the Ramadan fast late Tuesday night.
"Within hours of the crime, it was obvious to investigators that this was sadly the alleged handy work of the victim's husband, who allegedly did the unthinkable and plotted to murder his wife after a religious celebration," Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said.
The alleged murder weapon was found in Parvaiz's SUV and prosecutors said the man eventually broke down and confessed to the killing.
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Authorities said the Pakistani-American man plotted the killing with another woman, 26-year-old Antoinette Stephen, who was also arrested and charged in the plot. Parvaiz previously told police that his family was attacked by a group of three men shouting slurs about "terrorists."
Parvaiz was arraigned Friday and is being held on $1 million bail. Stephen, of Billerica, Mass., has also been arrested, charged and arraigned in the plot. She is being held on $5 million bail.
Parvaiz, who sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder and foot, told police that he and his wife were approached by three gunmen who just opened fire. Noorani was killed instantly after being shot in the heart. She was laid to rest Friday following a Funeral Mass at the Islamic Center in Boonton.
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Bianchi didn't go into details about the nature of the relationship between Parvaiz and Stephen, but in an arrest affidavit said Parvaiz and Noorani had a turbulent relationship. He also did not say who pulled the trigger.
"There is obviously a relationship. I am not saying it is a physical relationship, I am not saying it is a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. These are details that our detectives and investigators...are trying to determine," Bianchi said.
The affidavit quoted a text message from Noorani to her brother that said "Someday u will find me dead but its cuz of kashi ... He wants to kill me.''
Prosecutors believe Parvaiz and Stephen allegedly plotted the murder "for a significant period of time." Authorities said Stephen had met with Parvaiz in Brooklyn to discuss the alleged murder plot.
The affidavit also quotes text messages between Parvaiz and Stephen days before the murder:
Aug. 12, 11:34 a.m. Stephen texted Parvaiz, "You hang in there. Freedom is just around ur corner," the affidavit said.
Aug. 14, 1:03 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "Well I need to speak to you and explain to you how to approach the situation. ill be despositing money tomorrow morning and ill see you tomorrow evening night."
Aug. 15, 10:07 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "I can meet u I told Naz I ate too much and im going out for a walk where r u."
Aug. 15, 10:07 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "Driving now."
Aug 15, 10:07 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "K text me when u in neighborhood."
Aug 15, 10:07 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "I'm down church street."
Aug. 15, 10:44 p.m. Stephen to Pervaiz, "I know, I saw. I'm driving to the nearest precinct. To judge their driving distance."
Aug. 15, 10:44 p.m. Parvaiz to Stephen, "ull have a 10 mints head start."
Aug. 15, 10:44 p.m. Stephen to Parvaiz, "I know. its just that since we're close to Lubnas [Noorani's sister] house plus they're going to be awake, they'll come out first. I'll be running right their way. U need to. ... stall for some time along the road a little away so they're not alert."
Aug. 15, 10:44 p.m. Stephen to Parvaiz, "Oh [expletive]. Im parked near Naz's home. Was going to walk the area."
Aug. 15, 11:37 p.m. Stephen to Parvaiz, "I was parked outside Lubnas home. Just one car distance away from the first parked car. I wanted to see ppl movement arnd that corner"
Aug. 16, 2:12 p.m. Stephen to Parvaiz, "Call me when you can. Delete all msgs from phone. I won't message from here on"
They finalized the arrangements in a cellphone call on Tuesday -- the day of the attack, according to prosecutors. Stephen called Pervaiz at 9:30 p.m., according to the affidavit and the shooting took place shortly after 11 p.m.
In addition to the murder charge, Parvaiz and Stephen also face conspiracy and weapons charges. Parvaiz is also charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution and child endangerment.
Noorani's sister, Lubna Choudhry, said Parvaiz had asked his wife to go for a walk just before the attack occurred, but Noorani said she was too tired.
"I can't believe she's dead," Choudhry said. "She just told me 'I'm coming back.'"
Choudhry also said Noorani had been unhappy in her marriage with Parvaiz ever since the couple moved from Brooklyn to Boston.
"The last three months, she's upset, because he's not... behave normal," Choudhry said. She also said that she thought it was odd when she spotted Parvaiz walking around her property two days before the shooting.
Noorani and Parvaiz were wed in an arranged marriage six years ago.
"This case once again underscores the fact that domestic violence knows no divisions of faiths or backgrounds," Bianchi said. "We encourage all that are abused by their partners to find the courage to end the cycle of mental, physical, and emotional violence before it is too late."
Investigators say the investigation is still ongoing, and ask anyone with additional information to call (973) 285-2900 or (973) COP-CALL.
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