By: Richard L. Smith
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced that a jury has convicted 53-year-old Andre Higgs of Watchung in a retrial for the 2015 murder of his former girlfriend, 27-year-old East Orange teacher Latrena May.
Higgs was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. 
After those verdicts were returned, the jury also convicted him of first-degree unlawful possession of a handgun by a convicted person under the No Early Release Act, as well as second-degree certain persons not to have weapons.
The case was tried by Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab and Assistant Prosecutor Tehilla Cohen before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler, J.S.C.
According to prosecutors, the evidence showed that on May 1, 2015, May fled her home to escape an attack by Higgs and flagged down a police vehicle outside the residence.
As East Orange Detective Kemon Lee exited his car to assist, Higgs fired multiple shots, fatally striking May. Detective Lee returned fire, hitting Higgs in the legs.
Higgs then barricaded himself inside the home, where the couple’s four-year-old daughter was sleeping.
Higgs was originally convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2017, but the New Jersey Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2023 and ordered a new trial.
The Court ruled that the defense should have been granted access to Detective Lee’s internal affairs records and allowed to question him regarding prior on-duty shootings.
Higgs is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2026. He faces 30 years to life in prison, and prosecutors said they will again recommend a life sentence, consistent with their original position.