A Nigerian aspiring fashion designer, Sheriff Shittu, was fatally shot at a Brooklyn nightclub, Quilox Restaurant and Lounge, in the early hours of Saturday, February 22, 2026. The incident occurred after Shittu intervened in a dispute involving a drunk patron who allegedly groped his girlfriend.
Shittu, who immigrated to the US from Nigeria in 2018, was at the club with his brother, Fawaz, celebrating a friend’s birthday. The brothers had left the club but returned after realizing Shittu had left his phone behind. Upon re-entry, they were reassured by the club owner that the intoxicated man was being escorted out, but seconds later, the gunman opened fire, hitting Shittu.
“He was a very sweet person, very outgoing,” said Salem Shittu, Sheriff’s brother. “He was protective of his family, his friends, and his loved ones.”
Shittu was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His family had kept him on life support, hoping for a miracle, but he passed away.
The gunman remains at large, and the family is seeking justice. “We want him to get life in prison, the maximum sentence,” Salem said.
Shittu’s mother, Foluke, arrived in the US the day after the incident, unaware of her son’s fate. She described Sheriff as a kind person and is now seeking closure.
Shittu’s fashion brand, Riff Ent, will continue to operate, with his family pushing to grow it into a full-scale label