Shooting reported on May 23 in Artistry community in eastern part of county
A 34-year-old Sarasota man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty in the aftermath of a May 23 incident in the Artistry community southeast of Fruitville Road, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has reported.
Nicholas Alexander Novickis, of 1991 Main St., Unit 901, in Sarasota, was being held without bond on the murder charges, which are related to the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Allie Novickis, and his 6-year-old son, Phoenix Novickis, a May 26 Sheriff’s Office news release said. The victims “were found deceased within the residence,” the release added.
The family dog, which had been shot, was “transferred to an emergency veterinarian hospital,” where it later was pronounced deceased, the release said.
A $20,000 bond was set for the animal cruelty charge, Novickis’ jail booking record noted.
“At this time,” the release continued, “the motive for the shooting is unknown. The investigation remains underway.”
Novickis’ address is that of the Aster & Links “luxury apartments,” in Sarasota, according to the complex’s website. Novickis’ occupation was listed as “Unknown” in his Sheriff’s Office booking record.
The Kolter firm describes Artistry on its website as “a resort-style, single-family home planned community.” The development is located immediately west of Cow Pen Slough and close to Hi Hat Ranch, a map shows.
The Probable Cause Affidavit in the case says that Novickis’ mother called 911 about 11:38 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, to report the shooting. When deputies arrived at her home, the affidavit continues, they found Novickis in the kitchen “near Allie’s body.” Deputies took him into custody without incident, the affidavit adds.
Allie and Phoenix were dead, the affidavit continues, while the dog, “a husky, was located near Phoenix’s body. It had been shot in the back and was still alive.”
“During a sworn video and audio recorded interview,” the affidavit says, Novickis’ mother explained that her son, Allie and Phoenix had come to visit her sometime after 10 a.m. that day. When they arrived, “Nicholas entered his mother’s room, the affidavit notes He “told her they were there to swim,” it adds, and she “went back to sleep.”
Later, the affidavit says, she “was awakened to the sound of glass breaking. She went to the slider at the back lanai and saw Phoenix standing near the doorway. Nicholas then walked out onto the lanai with a shotgun, racked the shotgun, and shot Phoenix one time in the head, killing him.”
The mother told the deputies that as she was calling 911, “Nicholas shot the dog [and then] dropped the shotgun on the lanai …” His mother “was able to secure the shotgun,” the affidavit adds.
“As she moved through the residence,” it continues, “she observed that Allie had also been shot. [She] was able to flee the residence without injury,” it points out.
The mother was able to provide officers with surveillance video of the pool lanai, the affidavit says. At 11:34 a.m., the video “captured Nicholas walking out onto the lanai while holding a shotgun.” Officers were able to see the shooting of Phoenix, the affidavit continues; however, the “shooting of Allie was not captured …”
The affidavit does note that before Phoenix was shot, “the video shows Nicholas walk inside from the lanai and Allie follows him. Allie then reappeared back on the lanai before going back inside,” and prior to Novickis’ [showing back up in the video] carrying the shotgun.”
The affidavit points out, “At no time prior to the shooting did there appear to be an argument or any type of disturbance.”
Novickis did make “a spontaneous utterance in the interview room” while he was waiting to be formally interviewed by detectives, the affidavit adds. “[H]e stated his regret and that it was ‘f**ked up’ and that he killed his wife, son and dog,” the affidavit says. After he was read his Miranda Rights, the affidavit continues, “he immediately requested an attorney.”
A Sarasota News Leader review of 12th Judicial Circuit Court records found only one prior charge for Novickis. That was a count of speeding in a school zone, captured by a camera. The incident occurred in June 2025. He was cited for driving 31.5 mph in a 20-mph zone in the 2700 block of South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, the citation says.