The Orlando Police Department is asking the public for help to locate a fifth suspect wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a teenager and a 6-year-old girl, who was sitting in her living room.
On Friday, OPD announced that it is looking for Tyrik Omari Nichols, 21, in connection with the shooting deaths of 6-year-old Ajahliyah Hashim and 19-year-old Isaiyah Wright.
“A car occupied by several males drove through the Carver Shores neighborhood. They fired multiple gunshots,” reads a statement from OPD.
Police described Nichols as standing 5’8″ tall and weighing 160 pounds.
Four teenagers have already been taken into custody for the shooting, which was connected to “gang and gun violence,” according to State Attorney Andrew Bain.
Last week, Brandon James Pickett, 17, was arrested for first degree homicide. He joined three others that were arrested in the days prior: 15-year-old Nico Brown, 18-year-old Raymond Bowery, Jr., and 17-year-old Kny Adams.
The fatal shooting took place in the 1100 block of Poppy Avenue on August 29. On that day, Orlando Police Department officers responded to the area in reference to reports of a shooting and found 6-year-old Hashim and her mother suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital, where Hashim passed away from her injuries in the days that followed.
A student at Eagle’s Nest Elementary School, Hashim was sitting inside her living room when she was shot by stray bullets. She and her mother were not the intended targets of the shooting, police say.
Wright was located at Health Central Hospital a short time after the shooting and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Orlando police advise that Nichols should not be approached and that anyone “who is found to be assisting or concealing the suspect” could be arrested and face additional charges as well.
According to Bain, all four individuals arrested in connection with the homicides will all be tried as adults, despite three being under the age of 18.
“When we charge teenagers as adults, we are deterring and addressing these acts of violence early to hold individuals accountable,” says Bain. His office says it will hold the “most dangerous and violent offenders accountable for their actions” and ensure that they will face the “full consequences of the crimes they have committed.”
Law enforcement authorities are still asking the public for any information related to this incident. If you know the whereabouts of Tyrik Omari Nichols, or if you have any information that may help police in this case, please call the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300, or the Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-8477.