NJ Man Murdered Teacher Outside Of Her Home, Loses 2nd Trial After Court Overturns Verdict

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey man who murdered his ex-girlfriend 10 years ago got a second trial after his conviction was overturned – and he lost that one, too, prosecutors say.

On Tuesday, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced that Andre Higgs, 53, of Watchung, has been convicted by a jury in a second trial for the 2015 murder of his former girlfriend, Latrena May.

According to prosecutors, Higgs shot the 27-year-old teacher outside her home in East Orange on May 1.

May ran from her home to escape an attack from Higgs, flagging down a police vehicle. As an East Orange detective exited his vehicle and approached, Higgs fired multiple shots at May. The detective returned fire, striking Higgs in the legs, prosecutors said.

Higgs then barricaded himself inside the home, where the couple’s 4-year-old daughter was sleeping, authorities said.

Higgs was originally sentenced to life in prison in 2017. However, the New Jersey Supreme Court overturned that conviction in 2023 and ordered a new trial, ruling that Higgs’ attorneys should have been granted access to internal affairs records and been permitted to cross-examine the detective about prior on-duty shootings.

The new trial ended with convictions for first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun.

Following those verdicts, Higgs was also convicted of first-degree unlawful possession of a handgun by a person who has previously been convicted of a crime under the No Early Release Act as well as second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, prosecutors said.

Higgs is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 26. He faces a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Prosecutors will again recommend a sentence of life imprisonment, as it is consistent with the original recommendation, authorities said.

“This second conviction for murder for Andre Higgs was possible only because of the brave witnesses who once again came forward to testify,” deputy chief assistant prosecutor Justin Edwab said.

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