Tony Hicks

Tariq Khamisa Foundation Remembers the Life and Legacy of Tony Hicks

The Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) grieves the sudden passing of Tony Hicks, a beloved member of our TKF family.

Tony became ill while attending a conference shortly before his passing. An autopsy determined that he suffered a hemorrhagic cerebellar infarct, a sudden stroke, and that this was the cause of death. The underlying cause of the stroke has not been determined. Tony’s family has chosen to share these details so that the many people who cared for him have clarity, rather than uncertainty, during this time. They ask that their privacy be respected as they continue to grieve.

On January 21, 1995, Tony, at fourteen years old, took the life of 20-year-old Tariq Khamisa. Tried as an adult, he was sentenced to 25 years to life. In the aftermath, Tariq’s father, Azim Khamisa, chose forgiveness over vengeance. He partnered with Tony’s grandfather and guardian, Ples Felix, to speak to young people about violence, accountability, and transformation. This forged the extraordinary partnership that became TKF.

During more than two decades in prison, Tony reflected deeply on the harm he had caused. Found suitable for parole in 2018, he was released in 2019 and devoted himself to sharing his story. Tony spoke candidly with students, educators, and communities about accountability, remorse, healing, and the possibility of change.

Tony served on TKF’s Board of Trustees before joining our staff in October 2025 as a Community Impact Facilitator. He brought authenticity, humor, humility, and hard-won wisdom into every classroom and training, becoming not only a powerful voice for our mission, but a cherished colleague and friend.

TKF remains committed to honoring both Tariq, whose life and loss gave rise to this work, and Tony, whose journey came to embody the possibility of accountability, healing, and transformation.

A public Celebration of Life honoring Tony was held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in San Diego. During the Celebration, the City of San Diego presented a proclamation recognizing September 22—Tony’s birthday—as Tony Hicks Day in the City of San Diego, a lasting recognition of his life, transformation, and impact.

For those who were unable to attend, an edited version of Tony’s Celebration of Life will be shared on the TKF website in the coming weeks.