JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Outside the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sits a monument to Det. Lonnie Miller. A park on the Northwest side of town also bears his name.
But what investigators and Miller’s son truly want are answers.
“It is just that little piece of information that will solve a 28-year-old case,” tells Lonnie Miller Jr. as he reflects on his father’s case.
Det. Travis Oliver with the Cold Case Unit at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been going back over this case for the last year.
“What has made this case difficult is a lack of physical evidence and eyewitnesses,” tells Oliver.
It was May 6, 1995 around 11:30 p.m. Miller says he was responding to a business alarm at Pearl and Basswood Streets. He and patrol officers investigated and it turned out to be a false alarm, so the patrol cars left.
Miller was acquainted with the business owner, Abdullah Shah, so he stayed behind to talk.
According to police reports, Shah told investigators they talked for about 15 or 20 minutes when a man walked up from behind and said “ Don’t move or I’ll bust a cap at you”. Shah was shot twice, Miller was shot once in the chest.
Shah told investigators he checked on Miller and he ‘was beyond help’, so he left him and drove himself to the hospital. Miller, a 26-year-veteran of the force, died at the scene.
Oliver says Shah was able to provide some details about the suspect.
“He gave a description of the person, a clothing description and as much as he could as far as a physical description,” Oliver explains, “But none of the information provided has ever assisted moving the investigation forward.”
The investigation was extensive, reports indicate thousands of man-hours were spent working it from JSO to the FBI to FDLE. Yet, 28 years later, the case remains unsolved.
Lonnie Miller Jr. was an officer at the time as well and says in his 34-year career with JSO, he has wondered if he ever crossed paths with his father’s killer.
“One time I was arresting a guy, and he didn’t notice my name tag, and he said, ‘I just want you to know, I will kill you like I killed Lonnie Miller.’ So I called my sergeant, and he said ‘park your car, get out, and I will be there in a moment’,” describes Miller Jr.
The statement was investigated but ended up having no validity.
Oliver says though the case is cold, it could be heating back up.
“Fortunately for us now, we have some people that are beginning to come forward and give information that should have been given 25, 26 years ago when these people were arrested or had problems with law enforcement,” tells Oliver.
The next generation of officers will not forget the detective described as a devout Christian, father, husband and a man who believed in serving the community.
“It is something that we will never let go because it is one of our own, and we still need the community right now to help us,” tells Oliver.
Miller Jr. says his family is looking forward to the day they can finally close this case.
“But we are faithful,” he says, “It will be solved one day.”
If you know anything about the murder of Det. Lonnie Miller in 1995 please contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at JSOCrimeTips@JaxSheriff.org or call 904-630-0500.
You can also call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).