Deputies said the shooting happened during a family pool visit at a home in the Artistry neighborhood.
SARASOTA, FL — A Sarasota man was charged after deputies said his girlfriend, 6-year-old son and family dog were shot Saturday morning at his mother’s home in the Artistry neighborhood east of Interstate 75.
Nicholas Novickis, 34, faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty in the May 23 shooting, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said. The victims were identified by deputies as 34-year-old Allie Novickis and 6-year-old Phoenix Novickis. The sheriff’s office said the motive remains unknown, and investigators were still working the case this week.
Deputies were called to 4707 Mondrian Court around 11:38 a.m. after a report of a shooting at the gated residential community. The sheriff’s office said deputies entered the home and found Nicholas Novickis in the kitchen, where he was taken into custody without incident. Allie Novickis and Phoenix Novickis were found dead inside the residence. The family dog had also been shot and was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital, where it later died. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Doug Johnson said Novickis was waiting in the kitchen when deputies arrived.
A probable cause affidavit described the gathering as a family visit to swim at the home. Investigators said Novickis’ mother told authorities that her son, Allie Novickis, Phoenix and the dog came to the house to use the pool before she went back upstairs to sleep. She later woke to the sound of breaking glass and went toward the back lanai, according to the affidavit. Investigators said she saw her son with a shotgun and called 911. While she was on the phone with dispatchers, deputies said, the dog was also shot.
Investigators said surveillance video from the pool lanai did not show an argument or disturbance before the gunfire. The affidavit said the video showed movement between the lanai and the inside of the home before the shooting. Authorities have not said what led to the violence. The sheriff’s office said the case remains open, and no additional suspects were reported. Local reports citing the affidavit said Novickis’ mother was able to leave the home without injury after seeing that Allie Novickis had also been shot.
The shooting happened in Artistry, a residential community near Palmer Boulevard and Lorraine Road in eastern Sarasota County. Deputies and crime scene personnel remained at the home as they collected evidence and processed the scene. Early information from the sheriff’s office said two people had been found dead after deputies responded to the report of gunfire. More details were released later as detectives filed charges and identified the victims. The sheriff’s office did not release a public explanation for why the victims were at the home beyond the reported pool visit.
Novickis was booked into the Sarasota County Correctional Facility and was being held with no bond, the sheriff’s office said. The charges announced by detectives include two homicide counts tied to the deaths of Allie and Phoenix Novickis, along with the animal cruelty count tied to the death of the dog. Prosecutors will determine how the case moves forward in court after reviewing reports, evidence and the probable cause affidavit. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing, leaving open the possibility of more filings or additional public updates.
The affidavit and local reporting described the case as unfolding without a known warning sign at the home. Investigators said there was no apparent argument on the surveillance video before the shooting. While waiting to be interviewed, Novickis made a statement expressing regret, according to the affidavit. Authorities have not said whether investigators had found any prior calls, threats or documented disputes connected to the home or the victims. The sheriff’s office has also not released further details about the shotgun or how it was obtained.
The case stood Thursday with Novickis jailed without bond and detectives still seeking a motive. The next public milestone is expected through court filings or another sheriff’s office update as the homicide investigation continues.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.