Willingboro man recently released from jail charged with Elliot Simon murder
Virgil Howard
A Willingboro man released from jail three months ago was arrested Monday and charged in connection with the shooting death of 52-year-old Elliot Simon Jr.
Virgil Howard, 26, was arrested in a motel room in Bristol, Pa., by members of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with Simon’s death.
Simon was shot twice in the chest April 8, during what investigators believe to be a robbery gone awry. Police found Simon lying in the middle of the road in the 100 block of Boudinot Street, and he later died at the hospital.
Elliot Simon Jr. (contributed photo)
Simon was married to the late Tia Green, whose 19-year-old daughter Tiara Green was killed in a June 2013 shooting on West State Street.
State records show that Howard was released from the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in January this year after serving time for drug offenses.
Howard’s bail was set at $1 million cash only.
