Man Who Killed 'Teacher Of Year' In Jersey City Learns His Fate

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A man who shot his ex-wife to death with their teen daughter present received his sentence on Thursday.

Lucus Cooper, 41, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of Temara King on Jan. 24, 2023, said the Hudson County Prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors said that shortly after 7 a.m. on that date, Jersey City police responded to the third floor of 340 Bergen Ave.

King, 35, of Jersey City, was taken to Jersey City Medical Center for gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead just after 8 a.m., prosecutors said.

Reports said that their 14-year-old daughter called 911.

King's obituary said she had won "Inclusion Teacher of the Year" in 2018.

"Temara was full of life and brightened any room she entered," said a GoFundMe for her daughter.

King had grown up in Jersey City. She was a member of the student council and basketball team at Dickinson High School, then became a special education teacher, focusing on students with autism.

Cooper was sentenced to 25 years in State Prison, prosecutors said. His sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act.

King was one of four women killed in domestic violence incidents in Hudson County that month. READ MORE: 4 Women Killed In Domestic Violence In NJ In 2023, All In Just One County

Each county in New Jersey has a domestic violence agency, and the state has its own hotline.

The national domestic violence hotline, reachable through phone, text, or chat, is 800-799-SAFE (7233), or you can text "Start" to 88788 to reach them by text. The New Jersey hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The list of county agencies and other information on how to protect oneself legally in New Jersey is here.