A 35-year-old teacher who was considered an “outstanding educator and dedicated faculty member” in Jersey City Public Schools was shot and killed by her husband in what deputies are calling “an act of domestic violence,” according to reports.
Temara King was found dead with her body covered in bullet wounds in her third floor apartment on Jan. 24 after officers responded to a call. An hours-long manhunt ensued, and her boyfriend, Lucas Cooper was found, arrested and charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child and weapons offenses, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
King was pronounced dead shortly after 8:00 a.m. after she was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, authorities say.
NBC New York reports that King’s 14-year-old daughter, who she shares with Cooper, called 911 and said her father shot her mother multiple times. The daughter was unharmed and it is unknown whether the daughter witnessed the shooting.
“She will be missed and our prayers go to her family as they cope with the tragedy,” Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez said in a statement.
“The Cause and Manner of Death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. This matter is being investigated as an act of domestic violence and additional information cannot be released at this time,” reads a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit.
In a GoFundMe set up by loved ones of King, it states that the victim was “full of life and brightened any room she entered.”
“In her leisure, Temara shared her love for fitness and overall wellness. You could count on her to share a workout tip or simply post a positive message on her Instagram every morning,” the GoFundMe page reads. “If you scanned her page, in just a glimpse you’d know that Temara was very family oriented. It is clear that she was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, cousin, niece, etc. but no role was more important to her than being the mother of Alaysia who she affectionately referred to as her “Mooche”/“Lay”. Alaysia was what Temara described as her greatest creation.”
To learn more about the life and legacy of King, please visit here.
We send our heartfelt condolences to King and her family.
