‘It’s a nightmare’: Victims’ families asking for answers as Central Florida violence increases

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — In a nearly three-week span, there have been four people killed and six others injured in shootings in Orange County.

Primecia Nixon who lost her brother Anthony Nixon to violence on Oct. 27 said her life since has been like a nightmare.

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“You never really imagined it happening to your family members,” Nixon said.

Miles Mulrain, Nixon’s close friend, said Nixon was mentoring children and helping the organization Stop the Violence.

“This is not just another incident on the west side of Orlando — this is a tragic incident. This was a young man who was killed.”

Read: Police identify victim in shooting outside of Jones High School in Orlando

Community policing expert Melanye Smith said there is no one cause of the violence.

“We need to use more evidence-based solutions and policing. We need to look at our stats, we need to look at where crime is occurring, and what is happening in that community and why,” Smith said.

Read: Missing boy, 16, found shot to death at cemetery in Marion County, deputies say

For Nixon and the families of other victims, the lack of information they have been given about their cases only adds to their grief.

“The hardest part is not having any answers. It’s not having any idea, any inkling” Nixon said.

Read: Police investigating deadly shooting in Daytona Beach

So far Orlando police have investigated 35 homicides, compared to 33 in 2021.

In Orange County homicides are down from a year ago, with 56 reported compared to 58 in 2021.

VIDEO: Orange County woman learns of son’s shooting death through photo of his body that someone text her Orange County woman learns of son’s shooting death through photo of his body that someone text her

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