JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite the cold morning, nearly 50 people gathered Saturday to walk through Moncrief with local activist group MAD DADS in hopes of finding answers in the November shooting death of a 23-year-old man.
Christina Harris said her son, Nicholas Eugene Miller II, died on West 23rd street near Wilson Street and she wants justice.
She led the group Saturday morning in an effort to break the code of silence in her son’s death.
Harris said Miller was her oldest child and had just turned 23 a few weeks before his murder. She said he was a miracle baby, and he understood her.
“I have a strong personality. Him being my son, he always knew how to cater me, I say he was handling me, but he knew how to cater to me,” Harris said. “He was my first born. I had several children die during birth before him. I was told he wouldn’t be the one to make it. He and I fought for his life. He was my kid. He was my baby. I called him my big baby Nick, and he will always be that to me.”
Harris is now moving forward without her son, searching for answers on who killed him.
“My son died in a neighborhood he doesn’t know that doesn’t have love for him, a strange neighborhood,” Harris said. “He wasn’t raised around here. He doesn’t live here. He was murdered around here. My son died on the cold pavement with the pastor at this church holding his hands.”
Harris said her son was an upstanding young man.
“He played football for pop warner, for middle school, for Lee (High). He volunteered. He was in the youth ministry,” Harris said.
She said the holiday season without him was horrible.
“I am a family social bug when it comes to holidays. I did not have holidays this year. Thanksgiving was not Thanksgiving. I gave thanks for my life, but I did not give thanks for normal things like all of my children because one is gone,” Harris said. “Christmas was blur. I am just being honest and New Year’s was living hell and all of these emotions are daily, and maybe when we get the justice wheel to turn, I can start the healing process. I can’t even start that process until this person is off the streets.”
Harris said the strong turnout at Saturday’s walk was a testament to her son.
“It’s a reflection of my child. It has nothing to do with me. I know my family loved me. They care for me, but I am going to be honest, they love my kid. My village raised my kid. I shared my kid with all of these people, and the ones who couldn’t make it here are loved here in spirit. Nicholas was a special kid and the turnout speaks for it.”
Harris said she hopes to someday be reunited with her son
“Hopefully I get to see my child again, one day, in heaven,” she said.
For now, she fights to find his killer.
If you know anything about Miller’s shooting death, you’re asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a possible reward by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
