The New York City Police Department has launched a manhunt for the suspect accused of killing 30-year-old Nigerian national Sheriff Shittu, who was shot at a nightclub in the East Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.
The move comes amid growing demands for justice from the victim’s family.
It was gathered that Shittu was fatally shot in the early hours of February 14 at Quilox Lounge.
According to Gothamist, a news platform operated by New York Public Radio, police are searching for a man who shot and killed a fellow patron during a Valentine’s Day incident at a Brooklyn nightclub.
NYPD officials said the shooting stemmed from an altercation inside the club located on Church Avenue near East 95th Street in East Flatbush at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday.
A police source disclosed that the victim was shot in the head and later pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Centre.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with no specific details yet available about the disagreement that preceded the attack.
The suspect was reportedly last seen wearing a black jacket and white trousers before fleeing in an unknown direction.
The report noted that Shittu’s death marked the first fatal shooting recorded in the precinct this year. As of February 15, 2025, five individuals had reportedly been shot in the area, according to available data.
Meanwhile, News 12 Brooklyn quoted the victim’s brothers as describing him as a gentle and ambitious individual who aspired to build a career in the fashion industry.
“We’re devastated, though we’re trying to stay strong. Our main concern now is getting justice for him,” his younger brother, Salem Shittu, said.
Sheriff had reportedly attended a birthday celebration at the nightclub with his brother when a disagreement between him and another guest escalated into violence.
Salem questioned how a firearm was brought into the club, suggesting that security measures may have failed. He added that the suspect had been escorted out of the premises when he allegedly carried out the shooting.
For the Shittu family, the tragedy has left an irreplaceable void, with their focus now firmly on ensuring accountability.
The incident occurred barely a week after another Nigerian, Khaleed Oladipo, a 20-year-old student of De Montfort University, was stabbed to death in a street attack in Leicester.
Oladipo was reportedly assaulted outside a busy university building while on his way home to watch the EFL Cup semi-final clash between Arsenal F.C. and Chelsea F.C..