Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray along with East Orange Police Chief William C. Robinson and East Orange Fire Director Charles Salley announced today the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from local officials, is investigating the fatal fire that took the life of 55-year-old Willie Neal Springfield and her 3-year-old grandson, Shaquan Brown.
Both the grandmother and the grandson were residents of the 7th floor apartment on South Munn Avenue in East Orange where the fire started. The fire was isolated to the 7th floor.
Other units in the apartment sustained smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire is undetermined but at this time it does not appear to be suspicious.
The fire call came into East Orange at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. The grandmother was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after fire officials arrived on the scene. The little boy was rushed to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 10:19 p.m. yesterday.
Autopsies will be performed today on both victims to determine the cause of death.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
