newjerseynewsroom.com

The Newark Police Department's Homicide Squad in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office are in the very early stages of a joint investigation into a domestic dispute that ended in a murder suicide.

According to preliminary information, shortly before 4 p.m. 39 year-old Kelley McKenith, an Essex County Corrections Officer, was involved in a domestic dispute during which time she shot her boyfriend at his 19 Huntington Terrace residence in Newark. Newark Police responded to the scene where they were met by the boyfriend, described only as a 28 year-old Newark man who escaped the residence through a window after being shot in the leg and ear. The victim was transported to UMDNJ where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

McKenith barricaded herself inside the residence with her four-month-old baby boy. Newark police patrol units quickly established a perimeter until the Department's Emergency Service Unit (ESU) arrived and initiated communications through a negotiator. A short time later police heard shots inside the apartment at which time the ESU breached the premises and discovered the infant suffering a single gun shot wound to the chest and the mother suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Both mother and child were rushed to UMDNJ where they were both pronounced dead a short time later.

Police recovered McKenith's service weapon at the scene and believe it is the same weapon used in Monday's shootings.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM