By: Richard L. Smith
An Essex County man has once again been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his former girlfriend in a case that has spanned nearly a decade.
According to information released by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Andre Higgs, 53, of Watchung, was resentenced to life behind bars for the 2015 murder of Latrena May, a 27-year-old teacher from East Orange.
The sentencing was handed down by Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler, who also presided over both the original trial and the recent retrial.
Authorities said a jury found Higgs guilty on December 23, 2025, of first-degree murder, marking his second conviction in the case.
In addition to the murder charge, Higgs was also convicted of multiple weapons offenses, including unlawful possession of a handgun and certain persons not to have weapons.
Prosecutors detailed that on May 1, 2015, May attempted to escape Higgs and flagged down a police officer for help outside her East Orange residence.
As an East Orange detective approached to assist, Higgs opened fire, fatally striking May. The detective returned fire, hitting Higgs in the legs.
Following the shooting, authorities said Higgs barricaded himself inside the home, where the couple’s young daughter was asleep at the time.
Higgs received a life sentence, which under New Jersey law is calculated as a 75-year term. Under the No Early Release Act, he must serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
He was also sentenced to an additional 20 years on the weapons charges.
This marks the second time Higgs has been sentenced to life for the killing. His initial 2017 conviction was overturned by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2023, which ruled that his defense team should have been allowed access to certain internal affairs records related to the responding detective.
Following the resentencing, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that while no punishment can undo the loss, the outcome ensures Higgs will remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life.
Officials said they hope the sentence provides a measure of closure to the victim’s family after years of legal proceedings.