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The victim's boyfriend, 30-year-old ex-con Donqua Thomas, surrendered to Paterson police Saturday afternoon, ending a manhunt that was intensifying.
The victim -- identified only as R.L. -- had parked next to Thomas's car outside her home in the Brooks-Sloate Terrace co-ops on Christina Place shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
The mother of two got out of her car and was shot several times in front of her young daughter, neighbors said.
The victim, who able to communicate with responders, was rushed to St. Joseph’s Reginal Medical Center.
She delivered a healthy baby boy -- Thomas's son -- before succumbing to her wounds, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora said.
The baby remained in stable condition at the hospital, they said.
An alert was issued for a red Scion that reportedly fled the scene after the killer fired three shots. Detectives also reviewed several surveillance cameras in the neighborhood and got a warrant for Thomas's arrest.
They charged him with first-degree murder and weapons offenses, including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
His girlfriend was the 141st person shot and 23rd homicide this year in Paterson.
Although not considered a particularly dangerous neighborhood, Brook-Sloate was where a 24-year-old woman who was abducted and killed in 2017 lived.
SEE: Murder Victim Found In Car Positively ID'd As Missing Paterson Woman
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“I am about 2 seconds away from murder!!” a Wanaque man posted on Facebook shortly before he was arrested and charged with trying to kill someone.
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