The Essex County Prosecutor's Office are now investigating the late night Orange crash that left a taxi driver dead as a homicide according to authorities.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Orange Police Director Todd Warren have announced that authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Orange late Wednesday night.
Authorities said shortly after 11:00 p.m., Orange police officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Snyder Street on reports of a motor vehicle crash.
Arriving officers observed that a livery cab had crashed at this location.
Upon further examination the officers observed that the driver of the cab, who was unresponsive, was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound authorities said.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:36 p.m., according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Prosecutor’s homicide squad.
The victim has been identified as Jonas Larose, age 55, of East Orange, according to Fennelly.
This incident is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force and the Orange Police Department.
The investigation is active and ongoing at this time, according to Fennelly.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432.