Deadly 4th in Newark: Corrections Officer Shot by Male Companion

New Jersey authorities now say a 21-year-old acquaintance apparently shot and killed a 37-year-old corrections officer after the two had a dispute at a Fourth of July barbecue in Newark.

Allen Barron allegedly got in an argument with Katrina Owens, left the barbecue in her truck and later returned to Columbia Avenue, where he shot her around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to officials with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Authorities said Owens was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was one of three people killed in a 45-minute span early Tuesday. 

Acting Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio, who referred to the shootings as "tragic," called a news conference Tuesday to respond to the spate of violence. He said despite the three killings, the city's homicide rate is declining. He said, compared to last year, murders are down 24 percent and shootings down 10 percent since the launch of the city's "Safe Summer" crime program June 1. DeMaio said there were five murders in June and four so far in July.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who was unavailable for comment, wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning about the killings, "In 45mins last night we had 3 tragic shootings. We mourn 4 the victims. Nwk will not b deterred from our central mission 2 drive crime down."

Rice said the problem is not just for the police, but also the community, "We're losing the war and, through all these efforts, something needs to be done."

Owens, a married, mother of three, was off duty and apparently attending the barbecue with Barron. Authorities would not confirm the relationship between the two, but law enforcement sources who were not authorized to speak about the investigation, said Barron was Owens' boyfriend. After the shooting, officials said Barron fled the state and later shot himself in Richmond, Va.

Barron allegedly killed himself after U.S. Marshals tracked him down to a Greyhound bus terminal Tuesday morning, according to Kevin Connolly, supervisor at the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in Richmond.

Connolly said a U.S. Marshal made a "discreet walk by" outside the bus terminal at 10:40 a.m. when Barron, sitting on a bench, pulled a handgun out of a bag and pointed it at the U.S. Marshal. He said Barron then pointed the gun at his head and pulled the trigger.

Owens was employed at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton and Barron's last known address was in Pemberton, about 30 minutes away, according to officials with the Richmond Police Department. Officials with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Barron also lived in Rahway. Owens lived in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

Columbia Avenue in Newark was quiet Tuesday with yellow police tape tied to metal fencing that once blocked off the street. Outside the red brick house, dirt was mixed with blood on the sidewalk, where Owens was shot. A few silver-colored balloons were stuck in wires above the sidewalk and the smell of used firecrackers was still in the air.

Kenneth Lancaster, 48, said Owens died outside his red brick house. "I was just sitting in the house and saw police lights. I came out and saw a girl on the sidewalk. She was lying on her side facing the street."

Owens was one of three people killed in a 45-minute span early Tuesday.  He later died at University Hospital. No arrests have been made in those crimes.

Also in Essex County: Montclair Community Reacts to Death of Young Mother @ http://bit.ly/oY0UgL