Brunton Bissesar Singh, 55, was shot in the city's North Ward shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday, authorities said.
NEWARK -- A man fatally shot while walking to work in the city's North Ward early Sunday regularly sent money to his family overseas, a friend said.
Brunton Bissesar Singh, of Newark, supported his son and wife in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago, according to Roberto Mendez Spaccavento.
Singh, 55, was killed on the 400 block of Roseville Avenue shortly before 6 a.m., authorities said. No arrests have been made.
An investigation is ongoing, and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office did not release any details Monday.
Singh had been a member of Spaccavento's nutrition club, Health-Figure & Wellness on Roseville Avenue, for several years and had become a close friend. Lacking relatives in the United States, Singh bonded with the club members.
"He has absolutely nobody," Spaccavento said. "We were his family."
Singh frequented the nutrition club every day to get a protein shake or a cup of tea and relax in front of the television, Spaccavento said. He said Singh was a popular member of the community.
"Everybody in the neighborhood loved him," Spaccavento said.
Their friendship extended beyond the nutrition club, with Singh helping Spaccavento's family for two months after Spaccavento had surgery.
"He would come early, he would help my wife clean up the place, help her close the gates and everything," Spaccavento said. "He was really nice."
Singh was walking to his job at Pit Stop gas station on Park Avenue and 16th Avenue early Sunday when shots were fired, according to Spaccavento. He said Singh was an hour late to work that day because he had forgotten to change his clocks for Daylight Saving Time.
About 50 of Singh's friends gathered in front of the nutrition center Sunday evening to remember him.
"I put some candles, his picture and flowers," Spaccavento said. "We all gathered together, and we prayed."
Spaccavento said on his Facebook page that his business was collecting donations for Singh's funeral costs.
Si desean colaborar para los gastos de funeraria, se encuentra una caja para las donaciones en el club de nutricion...
Posted by Roberto Mendez Spaccavento on Sunday, March 13, 2016
Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.