BY STEPHANIE BARISH | wpix.com

August 3, 2009
NEWARK, N.J. (WPIX)—
A corrections officer from New Jersey, who shot and killed her 4-month-old son before shooting her boyfriend and turning the gun on herself, fired 15 shots during the altercation, police said.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, 39-year-old Kelly McKenith reloaded her weapon during the dispute at her Newark apartment Monday afternoon. McKenith's 19-year-old old daughter was reportedly in the apartment during the time of the incident, but escaped unscathed.

Louis Goosby, 28, who was shot in the leg and ear, is listed in critical but stable condition. He apparently went and got help after crawling through a window.

"I heard five shots coming out of the driveway," a neighbor told PIX News. "I saw a guy bleeding pretty bad....his whole shirt was red."

Kelly McKenith was rushed to University Hospital in Newark where she was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m., three minutes after her 5-month old Kaire McKenith was pronounced dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Officials said the shooting occurred shortly before 4 p.m. at 19 Huntington Terrace.

"The mother just came back from maternity leave...she had a medical examination at that time and seemed fit for duty," said Newark Mayor Corey Booker. "She had no record of anything that would raise concern."

Investigators said they are not sure if McKenith used her service weapon in the incident. She had worked for the Essex County corrections office for the past 4 years.

"The investigation continues no matter what the answers we find," said Booker. "But there will be no answer that is sufficient...it is a very tragic day in the city of Newark."