‘The purest heart’ - Friends and family of Shanice Brookes pays tribute after fatal shooting
“I’m honoured and privileged to have had her in my life”
The friend and cousin of a 30-year-old innocent bystander shot and killed in Sheffield says she wants to let everyone know how amazing she was, adding that she had the “purest heart” and was the “best mum to a son that anyone could ask for”.
Shanice Brookes was enjoying a night out with friends on West Street in the city centre when she was shot dead outside One Four One bar in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday. She later died in hospital.
She was out celebrating a birthday and had her whole life ahead of her. She was close to finishing a degree at college before her life was tragically cut short.
Her friend K-cee Cooper-Foster, whose children Shanice was godmother to, had been with her just hours before the shooting.
She told Good Morning Britain: “She should have been coming back home to us and now we’re never going to see her again. She had the purest heart and was the best mum to her son anyone could ask for.”
Shanice leaves behind a 10-year-old son, whom she had been planning to take to London for an Arsenal victory parade this weekend.
“She’s so selfless, she’s not even a massive football fan, but she was putting it aside for her son, and she was going to take him to the Emirates,” added Shanice’s cousin Tyler-Jay Reid.
“She was so excited about going and he was so excited to go down and something like that has now been ripped apart from him.”
Jemele Rhone, 30, Sheffield, has been charged with murder, possession of a firearm and possession of criminal property.
Deiryen Dyce, 32, has been charged with assisting an offender, possession of ammunition, possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession of drugs and possession of criminal property.
Both have been remanded into custody ahead of appearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court later today (Friday 29 May).
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles said: "Shanice was an entirely innocent bystander who should’ve been able to enjoy a night out in our city without the fear that she wouldn’t come home safely.
“Shanice's family, including her young son, now face the harrowing reality that they will never get to see her again.
"They are having to grieve the unimaginable loss of their beloved daughter, friend and mother in the most tragic of circumstances. Our thoughts remain with them.”
He added: “From the outset of this investigation our priority has been clear - to provide answers for Shanice's loved ones - and today's development is a significant step in our commitment to do so.
"Monday's incident has shown how gun crime destroys families and brings devastation to our communities. We need your help to ensure other families never have to experience the unthinkable pain and loss Shanice's loved ones are currently having to come to terms with.”
If you have information call 101 quoting incident number 135 of May 25, 2026 or report online via SYP’s Major Incident Public Portal: https://orlo.uk/yweYW
Crimestoppers can be contacted on freephone 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website.