EAST ORANGE -- One of the two men killed in a triple shooting early Friday in East Orange was a former Paramus Catholic High School football player, who continued his athletic career at a Virginia college, school officials said.

Dy-Shawn Simpkins Jr., 19, enrolled at Norfolk State University in January, according to the school. He participated with the Spartan football team during the spring practice schedule after graduating from Paramus Catholic High School last year.

"On behalf of the administration, coaches and student-athletes, we want to express our condolences to Dy-Shawn's family," NSU Director of Athletics Marty L. Miller said in a statement Saturday. "He will be dearly missed by the entire Norfolk State University family."

Dan DeCongelio, Paramus Catholic linebacker coach, expressed his sympathies Friday.

"My prayers and thoughts are with Dyshawn's family. You will be missed big guy. It was a blessing that our paths crossed in life," DeCongelio said in a Twitter post.

Simpkins and Keeayre Griffin, 29, were shot to death shortly after midnight Friday on Hollywood Avenue, near 9th Avenue, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Police responded to reports of a shooting on the street and found Simpkins unresponsive in a vehicle, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Welcome to #NSU our 2 newest football recruits - January enrollees DB Dy-Shawn Simpkins and QB Tripp Harrington!https://t.co/ZEh4PZpnOd pic.twitter.com/qQkruefw1V — NSU Football (@NSU_FB) January 12, 2017

Griffin died from his wounds at East Orange General Hospital around 1:30 a.m. Friday, according to the prosecutor's office.

A third man, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was also shot and hospitalized after the attack, authorities said.

Griffin also had a career at a student athlete. He was a Temple University football player after attending Saint Peter's Prep, a spokesman confirmed.

At Temple, he went from a running back to defensive back in the 2009 season, according to his bio on the school website.

Authorities identified the pair as being Newark residents. NSU and Temple listed the men as East Orange natives.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Task Force was investigating the slayings. Prosecutors have not commented on a possible motive for shooting and urged anyone with information to call (877) 847-7432.