Takeoff, member of the platinum-selling trio rap group Migos, was shot and killed Tuesday in Houston, Texas. According to CNN, a source close to the group confirmed the breaking news.
Houston police responded to the scene. The shooting happened in downtown Houston at a bowling alley and billiards hall around 2:30 a.m. early Tuesday local time. One person was found dead according to the department’s Twitter.
Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference Tuesday, police received a call around 2:34 p.m. local time. Officers arrived at 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston where a private party was being held and found a dead man at the scene.
According to Sgt. Michael Arrington with the police department’s homicide division, there were also two other victims — a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman. They were taken to hospitals in private vehicles. Police were informed about the private party that was held at the venue before the shooting occurred. There were at least 40 people at the scene when the shooting happened. The investigation is ongoing.
“A lot of people that were there fled the scene and did not stick around to give a statement,” Arrington said.
Finner identified the deceased man as Kirshnik Khari Ball — Takeoff of the rap group Migos.
I got many calls from Houston and outside of Houston, and everyone spoke of what a great young man he is, how peaceful he is, what a great artist (he is),” Finner said.
Finner added that Takeoff was very well respected and nonviolent. “I would not expect him to be involved … We have no reason to believe that he was involved in anything criminal at the time.”
Takeoff’s death is a blow to the hip-hop community and to pop-culture. Stars took to social media to pay tribute and to express their condolences over the death of the Migos member.
Gucci Mane recently collaborated with Takeoff on the track “Us vs. Them,” posted a picture of the rapper on Instagram and wrote, “This broke my heart.”
Nope star, Keke Palmer, also posted a message on Instagram. “This is horrible. From the tragedy of the death to the tragedy of there being a video of it online,” Palmer shared, referring to a video that appears to show the Takeoff in the moments after he was shot. “It’s all just tragic and I am so sorry to his whole family and all he touched. Really terrible.”
Takeoff was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He began performing with his uncle, fellow Migos member Quavo, along with Offset. The Migos would find fame with their 2013 single, “Versace.”
They would skyrocket into fame even more in 2016 with the release of their hit “Bad and Boujee,” which featured rapper Lil Uzi Vert.
Lyrics “rain drop, drop top” became famous with the internet using the phrase on countless memes. The song even got bigger with Atlanta show creator and star Donald Glover name-dropped the single during his acceptance speech at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.
“I really wanna thank the Migos, not for being in the show, but for making ‘Bad and Boujee,’” Glover said at the time. “Like that’s the best song ever.”
Takeoff and Quavo recently formed the duo Unc & Phew and released their album, “Only Built for Infinity Links,” just last month on October 7. During a recent conversation on Drink Champs podcast just days before his death, Takeoff accepted recognition for his performance on the new project.
“It’s time to pop it, you know what I mean? It’s time to give me my flowers, you know what I mean?, Takeoff said. “I don’t want them later on when I ain’t here.” You can watch the podcast below.
Takeoff was 28 years old.
