Slain man's godfather taking fight for answers in own hands

A slain man's godfather said he's taking the fight for answers into his own hands.

Gino Nicholas, 24, fought against violence in the Parramore community. He was killed in a drive-by shooting outside an apartment complex in Parramore last week. Tanya Skeen was also killed and four other men were injured, police said. %

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Skeen, a mother of three children, was putting away dishes when she was struck by gunfire April 16 at The Landings at Carver Park on Conley Street, officers said.

Nicholas’ godfather, Ezell Harris, said the Orlando Police Department is doing a great job, but they're up against a community that won't help.

Harris said he’s worried revenge will come quicker than an arrest. Harris said he's been in touch with detectives.

Police said the case is difficult to crack because it was a drive-by shooting at night, and no one wants to talk about it.

Harris reached out to the surviving victims of the drive-by shooting.

"The victims have said that they will handle it themselves," Harris said. "I believe in the end that these guys probably, likely, will seek revenge. I don't want more bloodshed."

Harris said he's not sure when the world changed. He thinks his generation would have helped police find at least one killer.

Instead, the families of Nicholas and Skeen were left holding wakes for people they love.

"In front of her 12-year-old daughter. I mean this is personal. If someone in the black community is not affected by that, they're not going to be affected at all," said Harris.

Harris is asking community organizations to raise money for a reward in the case.

"You make sacrifices. You go to the White House. You get a job with the city, and then this is the appreciation you get? A bullet in the back and one in the head, and nobody is talking," said Harris.

Police said the investigation in ongoing.

Related Story: Man killed in Parramore shooting fought against violence in community

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