Ex-boyfriend charged in West Philly mother's murder

Police have charged a South Philadelphia man with murder and related offenses after he allegedly shot his estranged girlfriend to death outside her West Philadelphia home Tuesday morning.

Anthony G. Alexander, whose 62nd birthday is today, allegedly shot Jennifer Fitzpatrick, 37, in the chest just after 8 a.m. outside her home on Yewdall Street near Larchwood Avenue, police said. Paramedics declared her dead on the scene. Police arrested Alexander minutes later on Brown Street near 47th, outside an auto-repair business he owns.

Fitzpatrick had a restraining order against Alexander, of Carpenter Street near 53rd, court records show. He is being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is set for March 13. He has no previous criminal arrests, court records show.

Witnesses and police told 6-ABC News that Alexander chased down Fitzpatrick, a mother of four, and shot her with a shotgun, as screaming children, on their way to school, ran for safety.