Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Chief Christopher F. Cannizzo of the East Hanover Police Department announce that Alexander Jacobs, age 74, of East Hanover, New Jersey, has been charged with first degree Murder, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and fourth degree Possession of Prohibited Devices.
The charges stem from the alleged shooting death of Jacob’s wife at their East Hanover residence.
Officials say, on March 26, at approximately 2:02 p.m., members of the East Hanover Township Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Selmar Terrace, East Hanover for a 911 call.
Upon arrival, first responding officers located the 911 caller outside the residence.
The caller indicated to police that her parents were involved in a domestic incident involving a gun inside the residence.
The Defendant, who was later identified as
the deceased victim’s husband, was determined to be inside the residence.
He was taken into the custody of law enforcement outside the residence.
The handgun believed to be used by the Defendant to inflict the fatal injuries was recovered at the scene. A deceased female was subsequently located inside the residence.
This deceased female was identified as the Defendant’s wife, Lilia Jacobs. An autopsy of the victim’s body is pending with the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office.
As a result of the investigation, the Defendant has been charged with Murder, a crime of the first degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, a crime of the second degree, and Possession of Prohibited Devices, a crime of the fourth degree.
The Defendant was charged on a warrant-complaint and lodged at the Morris County Jail pending a court appearance, according to officials.
Members of the East Hanover Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit all took part in this investigation.
If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200, or the East Hanover Township Police Department at 973-887-0432.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159