Watchung Man Who Murdered East Orange Teacher, Found Guilty: Prosecutor

WATCHUNG, NJ — A Watchung man was found guilty on Thursday of the murder of Latrena May, 27, a teacher at Pride Academy Charter School in East Orange, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced.

An Essex County jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Andre Higgs, 45, of Watchung guilty of the May 1, 2015 murder of May who was also the mother of his daughter.

In addition to murder, Higgs was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and hindering prosecution.

Higgs shot May on the porch of the two-family house where she lived in East Orange after she flagged down a police car to help her, according to Laurino.

As East Orange Detective Kemon Lee exited his marked car and approached, Higgs shot May three times. The detective then shot Higgs in the legs. After the shooting, Higgs barricaded himself in the house where the couple’s then 4-year-old daughter was sleeping, Laurino said.

At trial, the defense had argued that the detective's actions caused Higgs to shoot May.

“This detective was a hero that day. He responded to May’s cries for help and tried to save her from Higgs,’’ Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case, said.

After the jury returned a guilty verdict, Judge Ronald Wigler revoked Higgs's bail.

“Hopefully, the conviction of this defendant will allow the May family to begin the healing process and give them a measure of comfort,’’ Edwab said.

On Friday, the jury will return to try the second indictment against Higgs for the May 1, 2015 incident. The second indictment charges Higgs with second-degree certain persons not to have a weapon and first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Once the second trial is complete, the court will set a sentencing date. Higgs faces 30 years to life.

This incident is not the first violent incident between Higgs and May. In March of 2015, just a couple weeks before her death, May called 911 when Higgs entered her home, choked her and threw her to the ground in front of her daughter, according to the report.

Higgs has five prior felony convictions. In 1993, Higgs was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison for four different cases. The four different cases included convictions for unlawful possession of a gun, second-degree aggravated assault and a drug offense.

Higgs received an aggregate sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. In 2003, Higgs was again convicted of unlawful possession of a handgun where he received 226 days in the Essex County Jail plus 18 months probation.

(Image via Essex County Prosecutor 's Office: Andre Higgs, 45, of Watchung)

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