A Pianists death in New Jersey last month was not the first time he’d been the victim of a violent act.
The day before his death, a gunman shot him in the head as he sat in his car in front of his home, police said.
A year earlier, a group of people tried to rob a house party where he was attending and he got a call from a family member who said someone had been shooting at him from a vehicle, police Chief Richard Dolan said at the time.
Police were able to stop the attack with the help of a helicopter and two other officers, Dolan told The Associated Press.
That incident led to a manhunt for the gunman who was eventually apprehended, but he was never charged.
Pianist and singer James Pion, who also was killed in the attack, said he was a lifelong fan of the music, and his death came at a time when the music industry is in crisis, particularly after the recent mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.
“We are in a time of mourning and mourning is the only way we will heal,” Pion told ABC News.
“It’s a sad day in our industry, but at the same time we are doing everything we can to get through it.”
Pion, 51, was a pianist and songwriter who played a number of hits for the band Glee and other musicals.
He was best known for his singing voice and distinctive style, which he was known for.
His music career spanned decades and his repertoire included more than a dozen songs including “Glee” and “The Producers,” which were popular in the 1990s.
A day before Pion’s death, his family released a statement saying he was working on a new project with a new band and was looking forward to “having his final music recording with them.”
Pion was known to frequent the city’s parks and playgrounds, and he was also known to go to the movies, where he often sang with his bandmate David Guetta.
Pion is survived by his wife of 37 years, Heather; daughters Jennifer, 18, and Amanda, 14; son Alex, 10; and grandchildren Jacob, 12, and Sarah, 7.
ABC News’ Ryan Grim contributed to this report.