Arrest made in shooting death of former Sarasota High football player

A Sarasota man has been arrested in connection with the May 18 fatal shooting in the Tallywood Centre Plaza parking lot.

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Darryl Bernard Brookins, 28, was arrested May 22 by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Task Force. 

According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies responded to a 911 call to the Hookah Lounge Marrakech at about 3:30 a.m.

They found multiple gunshot victims in the parking lot. One of the victims, Tommie L. Battie IV, was dead from a gunshot wound to his chest. His brother, Brian R. Battie, was found with a gunshot wound in the head; he was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. 

Brian Battie is on the Auburn University football team. He remains in critical condition, according to a statement on social platform X from Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze.

Three other victims, Lee Claridy, 36; Tosha Johnson, 46; and Broderick McDaniel, 38, were also treated for gunshot wounds at area hospitals.

Surveillance video obtained from a neighboring business showed a Black male, later identified as Brookins, is seen leaning against the window in the hookah lounge. As the Battie brothers approach the suspect, he draws a firearm and begins shooting. 

The brothers are seen returning fire before falling to the ground, the affidavit states. 

Deputies said Brookins fled on foot, leaving his vehicle in the parking lot. Based on his driver's license photo and the video, Brookins was identified as the shooter, according to the affidavit.

A Sheriff's Office news release says Brookins has four prior felony convictions on his record.

Brookins has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and as a felon in possession of a firearm. He is in custody at the Sarasota County jail.