EAST HANOVER — A 74-year-old man shot and killed his wife in their Selmar Terrace home Thursday, authorities said.

Alexander Jacobs admitted shooting his wife, Lilia Jacobs, as he was arrested at the scene after a tense standoff with responding police, who observed him "walking back and forth inside the residence by the open front door," according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Police were called to the scene by the couple's daughter at 2:02 p.m., according to a prosecutor's office report released on Friday. Meeting them outside the home, she referred to Lilia Jacobs as her stepmother and said her father was still inside. She told police her parents were involved in a domestic incident involving a gun.

Alexander Jacobs later exited the home, located at the end of a dead-end street near Hanover Park High School, with a handgun in his right hand, held by his side, the affidavit stated.

Still holding the Pietro Beretta pistol, Jacobs continued straight ahead toward the officers, who ordered him to drop the gun, which he did on the front lawn, according to the affidavit.

Jacobs was taken into custody, and officers said he admitted to them that he killed his wife. He was charged with first-degree murder. The gun is believed to be the weapon, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

Investigators found the body with a head wound in the living room area near the back of the house, the affidavit stated. An autopsy is pending with the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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Jacobs was charged on a warrant-complaint and taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance. Additional charges include possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a crime of the second degree, and possession of prohibited devices, a crime of the fourth degree.

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The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit took part in the investigation.

Anyone who may have information related to this investigation are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200, or the East Hanover Township Police Department at 973-887-0432.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven