Authorities probe fatal police shooting of man who took estranged girlfriend hostage

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Essex County prosecutor's office is investigating the fatal police shooting of a man who had taken his estranged girlfriend and her daughter hostage.

Fifty-four-year-old Sean Sharpe of Orange held authorities at bay for more than seven hours last Friday night before he was shot and killed early Saturday morning.

Police say Sharpe had pointed a gun at the woman's head just before he was shot.

The incident began when the woman and her 11-year-old daughter arrived at their Newark home to find Sharpe inside. Police say the girl was able to escape when a SWAT team arrived on the scene.

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Officers negotiated with Sharpe for several hours without success.

The prosecutor's office's Professional Standards Bureau investigates all police-involved shootings in the county that result in serious injury or death.