SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Ernest Harris was 40 years old when he was killed in Suffolk.
Now, 30 years later, his daughters keep his memory alive and hope police find the clue that solves his murder.
“Maybe one day, somebody, someone would come forward or have some type of, you know, evidence,” said his daughter Shenetta Williams.
It was Feb. 23, 1993. On Jackson Street in Suffolk, Harris was at home on the sofa watching television. The rest of the family was at the movies, leaving him home alone.
That’s when Suffolk Police say someone kicked in the front door and shot Harris once, killing him. The suspect grabbed his wallet and a radio and ran. Harris’ daughter, Williams, was 19 at the time and at work when her uncle came to get her.
“And I was like, he’s going to be gone, he’s going to be gone by the time I get there,” she said.
Williams said he had a bad leg injury, so bad, you could see his leg bone. But that didn’t stop this Kool and The Gang-loving, laid-back father from being the best at-home dad he could be.
“He prepared our food, he washed the clothes,” she said. “Even when I was able to work, he would iron my clothes and have them out ready for me.”
A favorite memory — the day she graduated high school.
“I’ll never forget when I did come off the stage, he came over and hugged me and was like, ‘this is my diploma!’ And that made me proud.”
Williams said her father was a respected man, but believes he was targeted.
“Whoever did it knew us very well,” she said. “None of the things were missing that my mom had. They ransacked through my dad’s stuff. I believe it was personal, or either someone followed him home or something.”
The family moved out of the close-knit neighborhood shortly after. But Shenetta and her sister believe someone must know something and urge them to have the courage to come forward.
“Every girl goes through those moments where, you know, you want your daddy for some advice,” she said. “And I just feel like they ripped me and my sister and our children from having those moments.”
If you know anything, contact Suffolk Police, or call 888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) and choose option 5. You can also submit a tip through the P3Tips app.
