The hip-hop community is once again mourning the loss of one of it’s own.
Early this morning, Migos rapper Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston, TX after a dice game he was attending with Quavo went sour. Reports that the shooting was related to the dice game are unconfirmed but “OVER A DICE GAME” is currently trending on Twitter. Takeoff had been in Houston to celebrate the birthday of Young Empire Music Group CEO Jas Prince, the son of of Rap-A-Lot CEO, J. Prince.
News of Takeoff’s death started to circulate social media this morning after other people attending the dice game tweeted about the shooting. TMZ confirmed Takeoff’s death a few hours later.
“Law enforcement sources, and multiple witnesses, tell us the fatal incident went down shortly after 2:30 AM … that’s when cops got the call for a man shot at a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston. We’re told Takeoff and Quavo were there playing dice when an altercation broke out and that’s when someone opened fire, shooting Takeoff … either in the head or near his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”
In an eerie twist of fate, just prior to the shooting, Takeoff posted a photo on Instagram of himself smoking outside of the bowling alley, and included lyrics to Playboi Carti’s “Stop Breathing.”
Instagram
Police have indicated as many as 50 individuals were present at the time of the incident. According to reports, two other people were shotand both were taken to the hospital in private vehicles. Their current status is unknown but there has been confirmation that Quavo wasn’t injured.
“One victim was found deceased upon arrival,” the Houston Police Department tweeted, while noting that 2 other victims were taken in private vehicles to hospitals. The department has indicated that there will be a 3 p.m. news conference at the Houston Police Department headquarters to update the media.
Before TMZ had confirmed the news, a short tasteless video clip began circulating social media showing what appears to be Takeoff laying on the ground after being shot. Quavo and other members of their entourage can be seen reacting to the incident and calling for help. A person claiming to be a nurse can be heard, presumably stepping in to try to help. We will not be sharing that video or linking to it here.
There is also a text message circulating from an alleged witness to the event which claims Takeoff had been the “coolest quietest one in the room the whole time,” and “wasn’t saying a word just chilling in the cut” when the dice game erupted in violence.
The same message claims the fatal shot was a result of friendly fire, which has also not been confirmed by authorities. Police are just a few hours into their investigation, but hopefully the truth about what occurred will come out, and Takeoff and his family will get justice.
Twitter
Right in the thick of their promotional campaign for their new collaborative album, Only Built for Infinity Links (released October 7, 2022), Takeoff and Quavo dropped the new “Messy” video just hours before the fateful altercation occurred.
Takeoff, born Kirshnik Khari Ball, was just 28 years old at the time of his death. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
Rest In Peace
