NJ Teacher Fatally Shot While Sitting In Car with Son, Group Says

EAST ORANGE, NJ — The family members, past students and friends of Kofi Owens, a beloved teacher from Essex County slain in a shooting last week as he sat in a car with his son, will gather for a rally in his memory on Wednesday, Aug. 8 in East Orange.

Owens, 45, a married father of two, was killed when “someone pulled up and opened fire on him” as he sat in his parked car with his son on Friday morning, the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition (NAVC) stated.

His son suffered gunshots to his leg during the shooting, the NAVC stated.

The shooting took place around 1 a.m. on South 16th Street in East Orange. Owens was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:18 a.m., according to a joint statement from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino and East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi.

A police investigation is in progress. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fatal shooting. Detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, are asking anyone with information to call the ECPO tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

• See related article: High School Teacher Killed In Essex County Shooting

“One of the greatest losses a community can endure is the loss of great teacher,” said Zayid Muhammad, NAVC media advocate.

East Orange officials also plan to hold a separate candlelight vigil on Tuesday, Aug. 7 for Owens, a Newark resident, who served as a high school teacher at the STEM Academy in East Orange. (See more details about each event below)

East Orange Mayor Ted Green released the following statement about the shooting on Friday afternoon:

"I am extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of Kofi Owens, a beloved and well-respected teacher and mentor in our East Orange School District. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and all of those who will feel the loss throughout our community. This type of violence will not be tolerated in our city, and we are working aggressively with all law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice using every means necessary."

RALLIES ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY

• Tuesday, Aug. 7: Mayor Ted Green, the East Orange City Council and the East Orange School District for a Candlelight Vigil in remembrance of STEM Academy Teacher Kofi Owens on Tues, Aug 7 at 8 p.m. The rally will take place at East Orange STEM Academy, 129 Renshaw Avenue.
• Wednesday, Aug. 8: The NAVC will participate in a rally with Gloria Owens, his mother, and other family and friends, will include Owens’ students from previous years, young people from the HUBB, East Orange Mayor Ted Green, East Orange Councilman Casim Gomez. The rally will take place on So. 16th Street, between Central Avenue and 9th Avenue in East Orange at 6 p.m.

REMEMBERING A BELOVED TEACHER

According to the East Orange STEM Academy school website, Owens was a technology lead teacher.

Owens' profile on behance.net states:

"Owens was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and moved to East Orange, N.J. at the tender age of 12. Mr. Owens attended Sojourner Truth Middle School located in the Hart Middle Complex in East Orange N.J. He then went on to attend North 13th St. Essex County Vocational High School where he majored in Advertising Design. Soon after he attended Bloomfield College and graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics. Mr. Owens began teaching in the East Orange School District in 2006 and has come full circle from a student of the East Orange School system."

According to Learning.com, Owens was asked to lead a pilot for a new computer coding program at East Orange STEM Academy in the fall of 2016.

The East Orange School District posted a message in 2015 congratulating Owens for leading his students to success:

“Congratulations to both Mr. Dion Patterson and Mr. Kofi Owens from STEM Academy for their awesome accomplishment; their students received the highest scores on the Achieve 3000 Test.”

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: East Orange STEM Academy