In the late hours of a Tuesday evening in Cincinnati, Ohio, the life of 23-year-old Nawaf Althawadi was tragically cut short. On December 9, 2025, inside the Papa John's restaurant on West Eighth Street in the West Price Hill neighborhood where he worked, Althawadi was fatally shot. First responders arrived at the scene around 11 p.m. and administered life-saving measures, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The individual accused of the
shooting was a coworker, 21-year-old Murphy Tilk. Tilk was taken into custody at the scene without incident and has since been charged with murder. He was subsequently booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center. During his initial court appearance, he was held without bond, with another hearing scheduled.
While an arrest has been made, the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter remain unclear as law enforcement has not yet released a motive for the shooting. The Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit is actively investigating the incident and has appealed to the public for any information that might shed light on the events of that night. The community has been left to grapple with the sudden violence that unfolded in a local pizza restaurant.
Nawaf Althawadi, a resident of Cleves, Ohio, was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School and was furthering his education in the aviation maintenance program at Cincinnati State Community College. In addition to his studies, he delivered for Papa John's, where he was known to have many close friends. His family and friends remember him for his bright smile and fun-loving personality, with interests that included chess, skiing, hiking, roller skating, and making music with his band.
