A 30-year-old Nigerian immigrant was shot and killed inside a Brooklyn, New York, nightclub early Saturday after confronting a man relatives say had been groping women, including the victim’s girlfriend, authorities and family members said.
Police identified the victim as Sheriff Shittu, who was struck in the head when gunfire erupted inside Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in the East Flatbush neighborhood at about 4:25 a.m. Officers responding to the scene found Shittu unconscious on the floor of the club on Church Avenue near East 95th Street, police said.
Emergency medical personnel transported him to Brookdale University Hospital, where he later died, according to authorities. The gunman fled and had not been arrested as of Sunday.
Shittu had gone to the club with his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The outing came one day before their mother was scheduled to arrive from Nigeria for a visit.
Fawaz Shittu said his brother became involved in a dispute with a patron he described as intoxicated and disruptive. The man had been touching women without consent, including Sheriff’s girlfriend, Fawaz said.
After arriving at the club, the brothers decided to leave within about 45 minutes because of the disturbance. They returned shortly afterward when they realized Sheriff had left his cellphone behind, Fawaz recounted.
By the time they came back inside, the disruptive patron was being escorted out, he said. According to Fawaz, the club’s owner urged them to remain calm and not engage further.
“The owner was saying, ‘Don’t mind that person — he’s a crazy guy,’” Fawaz said. Moments later, he heard a gunshot. “I looked down and I saw my brother,” he said.
A bartender attempted to revive Sheriff Shittu by performing CPR until medics arrived, Fawaz said. The alleged gunman ran from the club during the chaos.
Police have not publicly identified a suspect or disclosed whether surveillance footage captured the shooting. Authorities have not confirmed details about how the weapon entered the venue.
Fawaz questioned the club’s security measures, saying he did not understand how the shooter was able to bring a firearm inside. “Security didn’t do its job,” he said. “You’re supposed to check people and their bags.”
The victim’s family said Shittu had been placed on life support as relatives gathered at the hospital in the immediate aftermath, holding onto hope despite doctors’ grim assessment.
“He has been pronounced dead, but we’re still hoping,” said another brother, Salem Shittu, 24. “We’re holding out with our faith in God.”
Shittu’s mother, Foluke Shittu, arrived in New York for a planned visit shortly after the shooting. She learned of her son’s death after landing.
“My son was a very kind person,” she said. “I love him. We spoke on Friday, and I arrived on Sunday. That’s when they told me.”
Sheriff Shittu immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2018. Family members said he worked as a security guard while pursuing his dream of building a fashion brand called Riff Ent.
“He was a very sweet person, very outgoing,” Salem said. “He was protective of his family, his friends and his loved ones.”
Relatives said they plan to continue developing his clothing line in his memory. “We’re going to keep pushing his brand,” Salem said. “We’re just trying to make a way for one another.”
The family also called for the suspect to face the strongest possible punishment under New York law. “We want him to get life in prison, the maximum sentence,” Salem said.
The New York Police Department has not released further details about the confrontation or whether prior calls had been made to the nightclub that night. Investigators are expected to review security footage and interview witnesses.
The fatal shooting adds to ongoing concerns about gun violence in nightlife venues across New York City. While overall shootings have declined in recent years compared with pandemic-era peaks, incidents in bars and clubs continue to raise questions about screening procedures and security enforcement.
Authorities have not indicated whether the alleged groping incident had been reported to club management before the confrontation escalated. It remains unclear whether the suspect and victim knew each other prior to the altercation.
The circumstances surrounding Shittu’s death highlight several intersecting issues: nightlife security, bystander intervention and the broader challenge of gun access in urban settings.
Clubs and lounges typically rely on private security staff to conduct bag checks and monitor patron behavior. If investigators determine that a firearm entered the venue without detection, the incident could intensify scrutiny of security protocols at similar establishments. Civil liability questions may also arise depending on what surveillance footage and witness accounts reveal.
The reported trigger for the dispute — alleged unwanted touching — underscores the volatility of confrontations involving sexual harassment. Intervening in such situations can place bystanders at risk, particularly in environments where alcohol is involved and tempers flare quickly.
For immigrant families, the case carries additional emotional weight. Sheriff Shittu’s journey from Nigeria to New York, where he balanced shift work with entrepreneurial ambitions, reflects a common narrative of aspiration and sacrifice. His death on the eve of his mother’s visit deepens the tragedy and may resonate strongly within diaspora communities.
As the investigation continues, the central question remains how a verbal or physical altercation escalated into deadly gunfire inside a crowded venue. Until an arrest is made, the family and the broader community are left seeking accountability and answers.
Police urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as detectives work to identify and apprehend the suspect.
NewYorkDaily
