Ariyell Triston Thomas, a 23-year-old from Pensacola, Florida, was fatally shot in the early hours of Sunday, March 12, 2023. The incident occurred in the parking lot of 2370 N. Palafox Street, outside a nightclub known as Club Climax.
According to the police, the shooting happened around 1:25 a.m. when a car pulled up and opened fire. Thomas was standing outside the club with friends when the attack occurred.
A witness, who was with Thomas at the time, described the scene: "We were just standing outside of the car and a car just pulled up and started shooting. And we just started running. I ran to the car to see if I could see him and when I got to him he was laying face down on the ground. I just flipped him over and put him in my lap. I was telling him to stay up it's gonna be ok."
Thomas was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds. His mother, Michelle Sinkfield, recalled the last time she saw her son, saying, "The last time I saw my son he told me three or four times that he loved me." She received a frantic call from Thomas's girlfriend informing her of the shooting and rushed to the hospital, holding out hope that her son would survive. However, the detectives delivered the devastating news that Thomas had not made it.
The family and friends of Ariyell Thomas gathered at the end of the Palafox Pier in Downtown Pensacola to honor his memory. The vigil was a testament to the impact Thomas had on those around him, with many wearing red, one of his favorite colors. His mother called for an end to the violence, expressing her hope that the perpetrators would face justice.
As of the current date, the Pensacola Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. There are no known suspects, and no arrests have been made. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward and have provided contact numbers for Detective Skipper and the Crime Stoppers line.
