Newly released footage from Texas depicts the uncle and bandmate of murdered Migos rapper Takeoff arguing with a group of individuals shortly before gunshots ring out and a’stray bullet’ kills the 28-year-old.
Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, which occurred outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston early on Tuesday morning.
The Grammy-nominated rapper and his uncle, Quavo, 31, were at a private party where dice were being rolled.
Quavo was captured on tape arguing with a group of people as a throng gathered outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston, according to TMZ footage.
At one point, a member of the crowd – presumably the man arguing with Quavo – can be heard saying, “Listen, buddy, you don’t have to be so disrespectful.”
Quavo responds with a basketball-related line: “Y’all have seen me play basketball.” ‘Do not play this way.’
Someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Let it go, bro.”
The throng begins to disperse, and seconds later gunshots emanate from what appears to be many sources.
In the dispute, Takeoff was shot in the ‘head or neck.’
The artist was confirmed dead at the scene of the shooting, and investigators have initiated a manhunt for the perpetrator or perpetrators.
Troy Finner, the chief of police in Houston, stated that they believe the assailant attended the party with Takeoff, whom he characterized as’very peaceful and nice.’
Authorities state they have “no reason to assume he was involved in any criminal activity” and confirm the usage of two firearms in the event.
They are requesting that any witnesses or those with information come forward so that his murderer can be apprehended.
In private vehicles, a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds were transported to the hospital.
Officers verified that his mother flew to Houston to speak with them, and the police chief urged anyone with information or surveillance footage to come forward.
Tuesday at a press conference, Finner stated, “There were at least forty people at that private party.” Someone has identified the actual shooter or shooters.
“Anyone with this knowledge must offer it to us so that we may resolve this case and bring justice to this family.
Whoever loses his or her life is a life lost, regardless of celebrity status.
It is private. He is respected and nonviolent. I would not anticipate his participation.
The bottom line is, and mark my words, we will identify the perpetrators.
Friends and admirers have condemned the’senseless violence’ of the murder, with tributes pouring in for the musician.
One individual visited the scene with a bouquet of flowers for the Grammy-nominated musician, appearing thoughtful as authorities retrieved his body.
Quavo, Takeoff’s bandmate and uncle, was horrified as he kneeled over his nephew immediately following the incident.
He may be heard yelling for assistance.
Police in Houston acknowledged that Takeoff was discovered dead at 1200 Polk, but originally refused to identify the name of the deceased.
Officers noted that there were 40 to 50 persons there when they spotted a man with a head or neck gunshot wound.
According to authorities, security personnel in the area heard the gunfire but did not see the perpetrator.
TMZ reports that dispatchers heard five gunshots, while witnesses told authorities that they heard additional gunshots and screams.
Images apparently taken at the scene depict the deceased rapper lying in a pool of blood after being “shot in the head” during the altercation.
The shooting occurred hours after he posted an Instagram story of him wearing the same outfit along with the song “Stop Breathing” by Playboi Carti.
Two additional victims were rushed to the hospital in a private vehicle, and their conditions are unknown.
As news of the shooting spread, Takeoff’s friends and admirers took to Twitter to express their condolences.
Boxer Chris Eubank Jr. stated, “I recall @1YoungTakeoff as a very humble and cool dude.” I can’t believe I’m saying this again, but another young black star has been murdered for no apparent reason. Something has to change in the industry because it’s sickening how frequently and easily people are dying. Goodbye Takeoff’
Rapper Ugly God wrote, “Do you not realize that these n***** altered the entire cadence of rap when they debuted? Remove Takeoff. This man has been out of the way, keeping things simple, and minding his own business from the start. If that is not enough to be left alone, I don’t know what is.
Claudia Johnson, a reality star, tweeted, “Sad and senseless.” As a bystander, he was shot. We must act to prevent everyone and their mother in Texas from possessing firearms. Especially irresponsible people who cannot simply disagree with others must resort to this! My deepest condolences go out to the entire Takeoff family. “Deceased at 28.”
Nikita Dragun shared a picture of Takeoff, while fellow rapper Russ tweeted “RIP Takeoff” with a praying emoji.
Yung Miami of City Girls tweeted her disbelief, stating, “Damn takeoff” followed by a series of broken hearts.
US rapper Almighty Jay reacted on Takeoff’s Instagram, saying, “Bro, you were so chill, you didn’t deserve any of it. I just talked to you bro. That s*** was painful.’
Before the shooting, Takeoff, whose true name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, joined his uncle Quavo for a game of dice, according to witnesses and law enforcement officials who spoke to TMZ.
Takeoff is seen on the floor while Quavo rushes to his side in scene footage.
As Quavo yelled for assistance, a group gathered around the injured rapper and attempted to transfer him, but immediately lowered him to the ground.
A video of the incident shows numerous women yelling “go inside” while another male says “I’m terrified for you, buddy.”
Takeoff co-founded Migos with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, who is married to Cardi B, in 2008.
Offset was enjoying Halloween with Cardi B and their children, since he was not in Houston with his father and cousin.
Takeoff tweeted a photograph of himself smoking in a bowling alley four hours before to the incident.
Quavo had also uploaded an Instagram story of himself and Jas Prince, who was celebrating his birthday, traveling around Houston.
It is unclear whether the ‘private party’ was a Prince celebration, but witnesses claim at least 40 to 50 individuals were present.
A Migos official has verified that Takeoff was shot and killed early Tuesday morning.
Bella Hadid and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs led the honors to the Grammy-nominated performer.
Jemele Hill stated that you “barely have time to heal” before another person is killed, while Jake Paul demanded an end to “senseless killings.”
Keri Hilson, a singer and actress, wrote: “Rest In Peace, @1YoungTakeoff.” Send your brothers, family, and friends healing love. #gonetoosoon’.
Takeoff and Quavo released their debut album as a duet earlier this month, titled “Only Built for Infinity Links.”
Although there were rumors about the Atlanta rap group Migos disbanding for good, there was no official declaration of their dissolution.
As an alternative, Takeoff and Quavo released “Only Built for Infinity Links” without Offset.
Quavo and Takeoff had launched a project as a duo, ‘Unc & Phew,’ and their most recent music video, ‘Messy,’ on Monday, hours prior to the murder.
Migos’ 2018 album Culture II arrived at number one on the Billboard 200.
This was their second album to debut at number one in the United States, following Culture, which featured the smash hit Bad and Boujee.
Quavo and Offset are cousins, whereas Takeoff is Quavo’s nephew, creating a strong familial bond within Migos.
In 2011, the group released their debut mixtape, Juug season, followed by No Label in 2012.
In 2013, Migos released their debut single, Versace. Drake remixed the song and added his own verse, even performing it at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in the same year it peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Migos released their Y.R.N mixtape in June of that year, which featured Versace.
The following year, the group released No Label II, a sequel to their No Label mixtape.
The mixtape was a huge hit and has been downloaded nearly one million times and certified double platinum by DatPiff.
The group, which has earned two Grammy nominations, released its first album, Yung Rich Nation in June 2015, which peaked at Number 3 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart.
How hip hop artist Takeoff grew up in the same house as his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset before the trio decided to form rap group Migos helping him build a $26million fortune
His closest family members were seen holding him over a pool of blood this morning after he was shot in the ‘head or neck’ during a fight over ‘a game of dice’, shocking the hip hop community.
Incredibly, the three Migos, who grew up together in the mid-2000s, went from dropping out of Berkmar High School to accumulating a $26 million fortune.
Takeoff, who was born Kirshnik Khari Ball on June 18, 1994, never met his father, who left when he was a child. His first memories are of his uncle Quavo, whose birth name was Quavious Keyate Marshall, and his cousin Offset, whose birth name was Kiari Kendrick Cephus.
Before they began recording albums together, the three members of the rap group lived together as a family in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
When Takeoff was in elementary school and Quavo, who is three years older than his nephew and one year older than his cousin, was in middle school, the family moved from Athens to Gwinett, Georgia.
After the transfer, all three boys moved in with Quavo’s mother, Latabia Woodward, a hairdresser who was responsible for their care.
I saw [Quavo] less as my uncle and more as my brother. But we have always made fun of each other,’ Takeoff stated in a 2013 interview with The Fader. Since he is my uncle, I must make fun of him. You have be funny.’
Takeoff was the one who wanted to start pursuing rapping seriously in seventh grade. In 2009, he approached his uncle about starting the band that would become Migos.
In 2011, when Quavo was in the 10th grade, the three of rappers released their debut mixtape, Juung Season, under the name Polo Club. They then changed their name to Migos.
In interviews, Takeoff’s voice was described as monotone, but it came alive in the studio booth; this is the most vivid remembrance of him following his passing on November 1.
Offset, dubbed by Quavo as “the most unique,” never grew out his dreadlocks like the other two, cutting them off whenever they became too long.
“Offset is family.” He has been with us since sixth grade,’ Quavo stated. We convinced him to rap in high school.
Takeoff had been growing out his dreads for years at the time of his passing. His mother, the older sister of Quavo, was usually his hairdresser.
According to Sandra Rose, his mother remarked about her son in 2018 when admirers tracked out her Twitter account, “He loves to work and mind his own business.” He prefers to develop good music for the public and avoid becoming involved in several activities.
However, it was in Atlanta where the trio planted the seeds of their fame. They recalled back-to-back nights with DJs, during which their music and faces became recognizable due to the constant rotation of tunes.
In a grueling pace, the three would perform approximately seven songs per day, even assigning homework to one another before beginning a session.
Takeoff stated, “You must have fun with a song and make someone laugh.” You must possess character. A difficult punchline might induce laughter, but you must know how to deliver it.
Takeoff was recognized as the band’s most reticent member and rarely granted interviews.
Except for the time that stripper London Dallaz released a photo of them in bed together, he has kept his potential romantic interests a secret.
Migos have a fifteen-minute rule, halting the performance immediately and playing it again to evaluate the sound quality.
“The nicest feeling is when you drop a song and wake up the next morning to hear the tune you dropped the night before. The music will tell you,” Quavo remarked.
They achieved their initial breakthrough in 2013 with the tune Versace, which was later remixed by Drake and helped drive their debut studio album Y.R.N into the limelight a few years later.
Their fame soared after Justin Bieber shared a brief video of himself rapping with the group.
Since then, the group has become regulars on the hip hop scene, collaborating with prominent artists such as Drake, Katy Perry, and Cardi B, whom Offset later married.
However, the group never neglected family. According to XXL Magazine, Takeoff and Quavo purchased a home for Edna Marshall, Quavo’s mother, in 2017.
“I and Take Just Bought Mama a House!” Tha Big Way!!!’ During the moment, Quavo tweeted.
But Migos was not without problems.
Offset was locked up in the DeKalb County Jail in Georgia for violating the terms of his probation he received in 2013 after being convicted of burglary and theft.
A succession of legal issues plagued the trio over time.
Offset was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Atlanta in 2016, while Takeoff was asked to leave an Atlanta-to-Des Moines flight the following year, and the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany sued the group for allegedly inciting a riot at a concert where six people were stabbed.
According to his mother, Takeoff began working on solo projects around this time. The three Migos were gradually separating.
The absence of Takeoff at the 2018 AMAs for Favorite Duo/Group in the Pop/Rock category sparked rumors of a breakup.
The same year, Takeoff released his debut solo album titled The Last Rocket.
Quavo appeared most likely to launch a solo career when he was featured on DJ Khaled’s “No Brainer” as the years passed.
Offset and Cardi B stopped following the other members of the group on Instagram in May 2022.
Offset was preparing to release his second studio album on November 11 when the news of Takeoff’s passing made headlines on November 1.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the group remained close even when working on separate projects.
A month before the shooting, Takeoff told the Big Facts Podcast, “We will always be family.”
Culture III, the final album by Migos, was released in June 2021. It is their final performance as a trio.