Despite a report in the New York Daily News calling the woman Free's wife, a public relations statement insisted the two were never married and Free has not spoken to the woman in "quite a while."

Police and relatives say Audrey Johnson went outside to break up a fight involving her niece's boyfriend when she was shot in the head, the paper says.

Johnson, 51, lived in New Jersey, but was in town visiting family on the street of her childhood home.

"She's just an innocent victim of gun violence. She was a beautiful person," said her brother Kenny Johnson.

Her nephew, Daniel Johnson, 14, was also shot in the leg and was in stable condition at Kings County Hospital last night.

The gunfire began after Johnson tried to stop two men from attacking Laquan Williams, 25, her niece's boyfriend.

Free, 55, was born Lloyd Bernard Free but changed his name in 1980. The former New York playground legend had a flamboyant style and averaged 22 points a game over a 13-year career. Free extended his condolences to Johnson's family and friends in the statement that was released.