Elliott Simon Jr., who was killed Friday night, was the father of 19-year-old Tierra Green, who was killed three years ago, according to friends.
TRENTON -- In the past few years, Elliott Simon Jr.'s family and friends have dealt with a lot of grief.
Simon's daughter was shot to death three years ago, according to Simon's friend Daren Green, a city activist.
Then, his wife Tia Green died.
Friday became another day of tragedy for the family and community when Simon himself was shot dead on his street, a day after he turned 52.
"June was a good guy," Green said, calling Simon by his nickname. "I had a great deal of pride and respect for him."
Police responded to the scene of the shooting on the 100 block of Boudinot Street around 9 p.m. Friday where they found Simon suffering from gunshot wounds just a few houses down from his own residence.
He was taken to a Trenton hospital where he died from his injuries the same night.
Green described his friend as caring person who had started his own contracting business and actively tried to help young Trenton men by giving them internships.
"He wanted to teach young men to be entrepreneurs," Green said.
For Green and other members of the community, who took to social media to grieve the loss Saturday, Simon's death is indicative of a larger issue of violence in the area.
Trenton homicide victim shot near his home
Three years ago, Simon's 19-year-old daughter, Tierra Green, was shot and killed in Trenton. (Darren Green is not related to the teen.)
Tierra Green was standing in a group of about 30 people when a man started firing at the group, killing the teen. Alton Jones, 22, was later charged with the crime.
Darren Green said the 19-year-old's death tore her mother Tia Green apart.
"I told (Tia Green), 'you're carrying around monumental grief,' " Darren Green said, adding that he knew the mother from work she did with local community groups.
Tia Green died after her daughter, Darren Green said.
"The coroner's report won't put it in there but Tia died of a broken heart," he added.
Members of Simon and Green families could not be reached Saturday.
Simon's slaying brings the issue of street and gun violence in the capital city to the forefront again, Darren Green said.
"The city is internally traumatized by what happened last night," the activist said, adding that someone knows who killed Simon. "We have to ask ourselves where we are in terms of our moral compass."
The shooting Friday night was the most recent in a week of nonfatal shootings which saw eight people were injured in seven different incidents in the city.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.