In the early hours of May 18, 2024, a tragic shooting occurred at the Tallywood Centre Plaza in Sarasota, Florida, resulting in the death of 24-year-old African American male Tommie L. Battie IV. The incident took place around 3:30 a.m., when deputies responded to reports of gunfire and found multiple victims in the parking lot. Tommie, a former high school football player, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His younger brother, 22-year-old African American male Brian Battie, a running back for Auburn University, sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Three other individuals, identified as Lee Claridy Tosha Johnson and Broderick McDaniel were also injured and taken to area hospitals.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the moments leading up to the shooting. The video showed a Black male suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Darryl Bernard Brookins, leaning against the window of the hookah lounge. As the Battie brothers approached, Brookins drew a firearm and began shooting. Both brothers returned fire before collapsing. Brookins fled the scene on foot, leaving his vehicle behind. Based on the surveillance footage and his driver's license photo, authorities were able to identify Brookins as the shooter.
On May 22, 2024, Darryl Bernard Brookins was arrested by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Task Force. He was charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brookins had four prior felony convictions and was booked into the Sarasota County Correctional Facility.
Further investigation revealed that Brookins' girlfriend, 29-year-old Nicole Elizabeth Roberts, assisted in disposing of the murder weapon. According to a probable cause affidavit, Roberts was present at the scene, driving a white Hyundai rental car. After the shooting, she left the area but returned shortly after, picking up Brookins. They then traveled to a neighborhood near the Manatee River, where surveillance video showed Roberts walking onto a dock and throwing an object into the water. Recovery divers later retrieved a Glock 9mm firearm from the river. Roberts was arrested on May 31, 2024, and charged with being a principal to second-degree murder with a firearm. She pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on June 7, 2024.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the incident, which they believe to be isolated. They have encouraged anyone with information to contact their Criminal Investigations Section or Sarasota Crimestoppers.
