Elderly Man Killed Trying to Stop Attack on Woman

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

SHAWNEE, Oklahoma -- An elderly Shawnee man trying to help a woman staying at his home was murdered while trying to do a good deed, according to the victim's family.

The homicide happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 900 Block of Minnesota Ave.

Jeff and Jim Simon said their father, 71-year-old Jimmie Simon, was stabbed after he stepped in to break up a fight between a man and a wife. They said they believe the man stabbed their father, who was just trying to help.

"Everyone else in there ran and left him. Then they came back to check on him and apparently he had already gone back to his room and bled to death," said Jeff Simon.

Jimmie Simon's family said the Navy veteran lived with an open-door policy. All were welcome inside and he always cared for the homeless. Sadly, they said, stepping in to help this time is what cost him his life.

"He's helped everyone here in this town at one time or another. Everyone knows him as pops," Jim Simons said. "He's a good man. He was a real good man. We're going to miss him a lot. A lot of people are going to miss him. I just hope we find the person that done this and justice is served. That's what we really want."

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the homicide. Right now Shawnee police are searching for witnesses and the suspect

As far as the woman who was being attacked, her identity and condition are not known at this time.