By Yomi Adeniji
The family of Sheriff Shittu, a 30-year-old Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, has intensified calls for justice following his tragic death in a nightclub shooting in Brooklyn, New York.
Shittu’s brothers, Salem and Fawaz, described him as a hardworking and ambitious young man determined to make a mark in the fashion industry.
“We’re just feeling sad, and everybody is holding it in. We’re trying to be strong right now, but we’re really worried about getting justice for him,” said his younger brother, Salem.
Shittu was fatally shot in the early hours of February 14, 2026, at the Quilox Restaurant and Lounge located in the East Flatbush area. The incident occurred during a birthday celebration, just days before his mother, Funke was scheduled to travel from Nigeria to visit him. She was told of Sherriff’s death on arrival I New York
NYPD Launches Manhunt
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed it has launched an intensive manhunt for the suspected gunman. Police reports revealed the shooting happened around 4:30 a.m. inside the club near Church Avenue and East 95th Street following a dispute between Shittu and another patron inside the club.
Authorities said Shittu was shot in the head and later pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. The suspect was last seen wearing a black jacket and white trousers before fleeing in an unknown direction.
Investigators say the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the altercation are ongoing.
Family Raises Security Concerns
Fawaz, who reportedly witnessed the shooting, questioned the nightclub’s security procedures, alleging lapses that may have allowed the suspect to enter with a firearm.
“We don’t know how security failed to properly search before somebody brought a gun into the club,” he said. “He was being kicked out and was being escorted out when he did it.”
Reports indicate that the fatal shooting followed an earlier confrontation involving an intoxicated patron accused of groping women inside the club, including Shittu’s girlfriend. Although the initial altercation had subsided, tensions reportedly flared again as the suspect was being escorted out of the premises.
Rising Concerns Over Safety of Nigerians Abroad
Shittu immigrated to the United States in 2018, working as a security guard while building his fashion label, “Riff Ent.” Friends and family say he was passionate about expanding his brand and supporting loved ones back home in Nigeria.
His death comes barely a week after another Nigerian, Khaleed Oladipo, a 20-year-old student of De Montfort University, was fatally stabbed in a street attack in Leicester, United States, raising renewed concerns about the safety of Nigerians in the diaspora.
As investigations continue, the Shittu family has urged law enforcement authorities to expedite efforts to apprehend the suspect and ensure justice is served.
“We want him to get life in prison, the maximum sentence. If there’s a death penalty in New York, use that, ” Salem said.
