NEW YORK CITY — The man suspected of murdering his MTA worker girlfriend in East New York earlier this week was found dead in a New Jersey apartment following an hours-long standoff Friday evening, sources said.
Zire King, 44, was found dead inside 388 First St., in Hackensack, N.J., at about 7:15 p.m., after a SWAT team surrounded the building where he was hiding out, according to sources.
Further details about why King was at the home were not immediately available.
King had been on the run since police released him on Tuesday after questioning him for hours following the early-morning shooting death of Jacqueline Dicks, who was gunned down that morning on Elton Street between Cozine and Flatlands avenues, less than a block from her home, according to police officials.
King was identified as a suspect Wednesday morning, when police announced they were looking for him due to inconsistencies in the story he gave investigators the day before.
He had initially told police that they had separated while walking home from her car and that he saw three men walk up and shoot her, but he told police he was momentarily blinded by the headlights of an oncoming car and couldn’t provide a description of the assailants, police said.
Dicks’ daughter, Tatiana Dicks, 24, said the family was suspicious of King from the moment they heard about her murder.
“Of course we were suspicious,” she said. “His story didn’t add up.”
Dicks described her mother’s boyfriend as a “jealous little boy” and said King and her mother — who had a 4-year-old son together — had relationship problems as a result.
Stille, she was shocked that he would become violent.
“I've watched him cry over my mother but I never thought he would take her life. I need him caught."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
