Nigerian Designer Sheriff Shittu Shot Dead at Quilox Brooklyn Before Mother’s Arrival
A birthday celebration turned into a devastating tragedy early Saturday morning after a 30-year-old Nigerian immigrant and aspiring fashion designer, Sheriff Shittu, was shot and killed inside Quilox Restaurant and Lounge in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The shooting occurred around 4:25 a.m. when gunfire erupted inside the nightclub, sending patrons scrambling for safety. Shittu had been out with his younger brother, Fawaz Shittu, celebrating a friend’s birthday just one day before their mother was scheduled to arrive from Nigeria for a visit.
According to Fawaz, the situation began when an intoxicated patron allegedly started behaving inappropriately toward several women inside the club, including Sheriff’s girlfriend. A brief altercation followed. Although the Shittu brothers initially left the venue to de-escalate the situation, they returned minutes later after realizing Sheriff had forgotten his phone.
As the intoxicated individual was reportedly being escorted out, tensions flared once again. Moments later, a single gunshot rang out.
“I heard ‘pow,’ and I looked down and I saw my brother,” Fawaz recalled in an emotional account. “I was screaming his name. I was trying to wake him up.”
Witnesses say panic spread quickly through the crowded lounge. A bartender attempted CPR as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Sheriff was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Police say the suspect fled immediately after the shooting and remains at large. Authorities have not yet released a detailed description of the gunman but confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
The family is now demanding answers, questioning how a firearm was able to make it into the club despite security measures.
“We just want justice,” a family member said. “How did someone get inside with a weapon? That’s what we need to understand.”
Sheriff Shittu immigrated to the United States in 2018 in pursuit of better opportunities. While working as a security guard to support himself, he was steadily building his fashion brand, Riff Ent, hoping to establish a name in the competitive New York design scene. Friends describe him as ambitious, hardworking, and deeply committed to his dreams.
Those close to him say he was especially protective of his family and proud of how far he had come since moving to America.
“He had big plans,” one friend said. “He wasn’t just working a job. He was building something.”
The timing of the tragedy has added another layer of heartbreak. Sheriff’s mother, Foluke Shittu, had been scheduled to arrive in New York for a long-awaited visit. Instead of a joyful reunion, she was met with the unimaginable loss of her son shortly after landing.
Family members say the news shattered her.
Despite the devastating blow, the Shittu family says they are determined to honor Sheriff’s legacy by continuing his fashion vision. They have vowed to push forward with his creative brand while seeking accountability for his killing.
Community members in Brooklyn’s Nigerian diaspora have also expressed shock and sorrow, calling for swift action from law enforcement and stronger safety protocols at nightlife establishments.
As investigators work to identify and apprehend the suspect, loved ones are left grappling with grief and unanswered questions.
Anyone with information related to the shooting is urged to contact local authorities.
For the Shittu family, what was meant to be a night of celebration has become a painful reminder of how quickly joy can turn into tragedy. Now, they wait for justice while holding onto the memory of a son, brother, and dreamer whose life was cut short far too soon.
