The man, who has been named locally as Tyio Day, tragically lost his life in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Moon’s Lodge hostel.
A 26-year-old man is currently being questioned by detectives, having been arrested on suspicion of Tyio’s murder.
Tyio Day (Image: Family handout)
Another man, in his thirties, was seriously injured when the fight broke out and is in hospital.
Tyio, a dad-of-two who is from Sutton in South London, was described by cousin Ebony Smith as “loving, determined and caring”.
The 34-year-old, also from Sutton, said: “He would put everyone first because that is is heart.”
She added: “He was so inquisitive and he should have been going places, but he had a hard life.
“He made some choices that were not the best, but he had brains growing up – he could have been a doctor.”
A Gofundme page set up by Tyio’s family is raising money to pay for his funeral. It has amassed £200 of a £5,000 total at the time of writing.
Tyio Day (Image: Family handout)
It said: “Tyio had a hard life growing up, losing his mother at 15 years old, resulting in him going into the system and turning to drugs.
“Unfortunately the system failed him and this is the outcome, found murdered in a hostel.”
Ebony recalled fonder memories of Tyio – who police said was 37 – when they were younger.
She said: “We were very close growing up; he was the one that got me into music and dancing, he taught me all these things.”
Tyio Day (Image: Family handout)
She described Daniel Beddingfield’s Gotta Get Thru This as ‘his song’.
Ebony said she was playing the song yesterday and today before finding out the devastating news of his death.
She said: “I was listening to the words; it has a lot of meaning.
“I found it weird that this happened today.”
She added: “He was a sweetheart and he looked out for me; I’m the only girl in the family so he made sure I was looked after.”
(Image: NQ)
After serving time in prison during his teenage years and early adulthood, Tyio changed and “locked himself away from family”, Ebony said.
“He was embarrassed,” she said. “He ran away from the world.”
It was at this stage he turned to drugs, she said.
“He started spiralling; he seemed okay from the outside but he wasn’t.”
(Image: Sussex News and Pictures)
He became homeless and spent time drifting between different towns and cities, living in both Hastings and Brighton at points in his adult life.
He was also featured on a video by TikTok influencer Jason Frost, where he referred to himself as Marcus – the name he went by in Brighton.
Mr Frost also paid tribute to Mr Day on Facebook. He said: “Sad news to hear about what happened in Brighton last night.”
He added: “No-one deserves this. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time.”
Ebony said the news of her cousin’s death came suddenly: “I can’t even describe the feeling when I found out. It was so unexpected.”
The 26-year-old man, of no fixed address, was also arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.
He remains in police custody.
Ebony thanked the public for their donations to give Tyio a funeral to be proud of and said it ‘would mean a lot’ if people donated.
She said: “I want to give him the send-off he deserves.”
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