A Nigerian fashion entrepreneur has been killed in a shooting incident at a Brooklyn nightclub, barely two hours into Valentine’s Day.
Sheriff Shittu, 30, was gunned down at Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in East Flatbush during what started as a celebratory outing with friends and family on February 14.
The tragedy unfolded around 4:25 a.m. when an intoxicated patron, who was being removed from the premises by security operatives, allegedly opened fire.
Witnesses said trouble began inside the venue after the suspect created a scene and allegedly molested several women, including Shittu’s girlfriend, sparking a confrontation.
Fawaz Shittu, the victim’s younger brother who accompanied him to the party, described the horrifying moments after his sibling was struck by gunfire.
“I was screaming his name. I was trying to wake him up,” Fawaz told reporters in a grief-laden voice.
The deceased was rushed to One Brooklyn Health–Brookdale University Hospital Medical Centre but could not survive the gunshot wounds.
Family members have expressed outrage over what they described as a security breach at the establishment.
Salem Shittu, another brother of the deceased, questioned how a firearm entered the venue undetected.
“We don’t know how the security did not do the job and search properly before somebody could bring a gun into the club,” Salem said. “He was being kicked out, and he was being escorted out when he did it.”
The suspect escaped immediately after the shooting and remains wanted by law enforcement authorities.
Shittu, described by relatives as a budding designer working to build his brand in America, had his life cut short just as his career was taking shape.
Police have intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing gunman as investigations continue.
The incident has reignited concerns about safety protocols at entertainment venues across New York City, particularly regarding patron screening and weapons detection.
As at press time, authorities had not released the identity of the suspect or announced any arrests in connection with the killing.
