A New Jersey man, Andre Higgs, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Latrena May, who was shot and killed outside her home in 2015 while attempting to seek help from a police officer.
Conviction and Sentencing
In late December 2025, 53-year-old Andre Higgs was convicted of the first-degree murder of Latrena May by a jury in Essex County. On Friday, Higgs was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, a 75-year sentence, as well as an additional 20 years for related weapons charges.
Details of the Crime
The tragic incident took place on the night of May 1, 2015, outside of May’s home on Tremont Avenue in East Orange, New Jersey, a suburb near New York City. After a heated argument, May tried to escape Higgs by running outside and flagging down a police vehicle.
As East Orange Detective Kemon Lee exited his vehicle and approached the scene, Higgs opened fire, shooting May multiple times. Detective Lee returned fire, hitting Higgs in the legs. The suspect retreated back into May’s house, where her 4-year-old daughter was still asleep. After barricading himself inside, Higgs was eventually arrested.
Legal Proceedings and Retrial
Higgs was originally sentenced to life in prison in 2017 after being convicted of May’s murder. However, in 2023, the New Jersey Supreme Court overturned the conviction, granting him a retrial. The Court ruled that Higgs’ defense attorneys should have had access to Detective Lee’s “internal affairs file,” which contained prior incidents involving the officer firing his weapon while on duty.
Despite the retrial, the second trial did not result in a materially different outcome, with Higgs once again found guilty of first-degree murder and several related charges, including unlawful possession of a handgun.
Heroic Actions of Detective Lee
Prosecutor Justin Edwab praised the bravery of the witnesses who came forward to testify, emphasizing that the conviction was only possible because of their courage. He also highlighted the heroic actions of Detective Kemon Lee, who responded swiftly to save May from her abuser.
“Detective Kemon Lee was a hero that day for responding to Latrena May and attempting to save her from the grip of her abuser,” Edwab stated.
New Jersey Law and Long Sentence
Under a new law passed in New Jersey, Higgs must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for release, meaning he will serve nearly 64 years on the murder conviction alone.
While no sentence can undo the loss of Latrena May, Prosecutor Edwab expressed hope that Higgs’ life sentence would provide some peace to the May family, acknowledging their profound loss.
