Tragic Shooting Claims Life of Nigerian Fashion Designer in Brooklyn Nightclub
A 30-year-old Nigerian aspiring fashion designer, Sheriff Shittu, was fatally shot in the head at a Brooklyn nightclub early Saturday morning after a confrontation with a drunk man who reportedly groped his girlfriend. The incident occurred at Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in East Flatbush on Church Avenue near 95th Street at approximately 4:25 a.m., according to police reports.
Details of the Fatal Encounter
Sheriff Shittu had accompanied his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, to the club to celebrate a friend's birthday. This gathering took place just one day before their mother was scheduled to arrive from Nigeria for a visit. The brothers initially left the venue after only 45 minutes due to disturbances, but they returned minutes later when Sheriff realized he had left his cell phone behind.
Upon their return, the drunk individual involved in the earlier incident was being escorted out of the club. The owner attempted to persuade the brothers to stay, reassuring them by saying, "Don't mind that person—he's a crazy guy." Tragically, moments later, gunfire erupted.
Brother's Harrowing Account
"I was screaming his name," Fawaz Shittu recounted, describing the chaotic aftermath of the shooting. "I was trying to wake him up." He explained that the altercation began when the stranger started drunkenly groping women, including Sheriff's girlfriend, leading to a physical tussle between Sheriff and the assailant.
Fawaz vividly recalled the moment of the shooting: "A few seconds later, I heard 'pow,' and I looked down, and I saw my brother." A bartender immediately rushed to perform CPR on Sheriff, who lay motionless on the floor. The gunman fled the scene and remains at large, with no arrests made as of the latest reports.
Security Failures and Family Outrage
Fawaz expressed frustration over the apparent security lapses at the nightclub. "I don't know how that happened or how he got the gun in the club. Security didn't do its job. They didn't search. You're supposed to check people and their bags," he stated emphatically.
Medics transported Sheriff to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. However, his family has chosen to keep him on life support, clinging to hope for a miraculous recovery. "He has been pronounced dead, but we're still hoping," said Salem Shittu, 24, another brother of the victim. "We're holding out with our faith in God."
Remembering Sheriff Shittu
Salem fondly remembered his brother as "a very sweet person, very outgoing" and someone who was "protective of his family, his friends, and his loved ones." Sheriff had immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2018, working as a security guard while building his fledgling fashion label, Riff Ent.
"We're going to keep pushing his brand," Salem affirmed. "We're just trying to make a way for one another." The shooting occurred the day before their 60-year-old mother, Foluke Shittu, arrived on a preplanned trip to visit her sons' home in Far Rockaway, Queens. She learned of the tragedy only after her plane landed.
"My son was a very kind person," Foluke shared emotionally. "I love him. We spoke on Friday, and I arrived on Sunday. That's when they told me."
Family's Quest for Justice
As the family prays for Sheriff's recovery, they are also demanding justice for his killer. "We want him to get life in prison, the maximum sentence," Salem stated firmly. "If there's a death penalty in New York, use that." The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
