Prosecutors: Officer Shot, Wounded Man Who Fatally Shot Woman In East Orange
EAST ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A police officer shot and wounded a man in East Orange Friday after the man allegedly shot and killed the mother of his child during an argument outside her home.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, 42-year-old Andre Higgs, of Watchung, is charged with murder and weapons offenses in the death of 27-year-old teacher Latrena May.
As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, it was around 10 p.m. Friday when neighbors on Tremont Avenue heard the gunfire.
Prosecutors: Officer Shot, Wounded Man Who Fatally Shot Woman In East Orange
Prosecutors said the couple had been arguing outside May's East Orange home around 10 p.m. Friday when she flagged down the officer, who was on patrol in the area.
When the officer approached them, Higgs allegedly shot May and was then shot by the officer, whose name wasn't disclosed, prosecutors said.
May was pronounced dead at the scene.
Higgs was taken to a hospital, but further details on his condition were not released.
A man named Vincent who lives across the street told Smith he was shocked at what authorities alleged was the chain of events.
"To shoot the girl in front of the cops -- that's, that's terrible," he said.
Marvan Covington said it was tragic that a young schoolteacher's life was taken and a child was left behind.
"A very nice person -- very polite," Covington said.
One witness who was too traumatized to go on tape said the victim never saw it coming.
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