The world was shocked to find out that a member of the rap triumvirate Migos was shot and killed. Takeoff, one of the members of the influential rap group, lost his life during a private party at a bowling alley in downtown Houston on Tuesday. The violent death is the latest loss for the rap music community amid many senseless killings happening to young stars within the music genre.
The reaction was swift for sports stars from the NFL, NBA, and boxing worlds, which are all mourning Takeoff’s tragic death. Takeoff is a luminary from the Atlanta music scene and is beloved by the Peach State’s athletes. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young along with New Orleans Saints player Alvin Kamara, who is a Georgia native, both released statements expressing shock after the rapper was shot and killed.
No Fucking Way..
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) November 1, 2022
“No F***ing Way..” posted Young on Twitter.
“RIP bra,” Kamara posted for Takeoff.
Many other voices let their opinions be heard on the matter, including boxer Jake Paul, fresh off a win over combat sports legend Anderson Silva.
Senseless killings need to stop. Need to unify. RIP TAKEOFF.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 1, 2022
“Senseless killings need to stop,” Paul said on his social media platforms. “Need to unify. RIP TAKEOFF.” Paul continued in another tweet, “To all the youth…put down the guns and pick up some boxing gloves to settle your differences. Violence is not the answer.”
Former New York Jets standout Darrelle Revis made a poignant statement after learning of the tragedy.
To all the youth…put down the guns and pick up some boxing gloves to settle your differences. Violence is not the answer.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 1, 2022
“our legends are being taken away too soon. a big supporter of Migos. it’s just not good to wake up to news like this. @1YoungTakeoff @QuavoStuntin”
Officers with the Houston Police Department and emergency officials reportedly responded to calls of a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling, located in downtown Houston, around 2:40 a.m.
RIP bra…
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) November 1, 2022
When they arrived, a large crowd was gathered around a man with a reported gunshot wound to his head or neck area. Although officers did not immediately identify the victim as the rapper Takeoff, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
About 40 to 50 people were at the location when the shooting occurred, with the party officially ending at 1 a.m. but continuing until the incident occurred. Investigators said they found multiple shell casings on the third level outside the bowling and pool hall.
Police confirmed during a press conference that Migos group members Quavo and Takeoff were in attendance and that two additional victims were taken to nearby hospitals in private vehicles with their conditions unknown.
our legends are being taken away too soon. a big supporter of Migos. it’s just not good to wake up to news like this. @1YoungTakeoff @QuavoStuntin
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) November 1, 2022
Although officers initially said they would not release the victim’s identity until his family was notified and his identification was verified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. However, a representative for the group confirmed the victim was Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball.
Now investigators said they are reviewing surveillance video in the area and are working to determine what led up to the shooting. Tragically, Takeoff was in celebratory mode as he and his Migos partner Quavo released their duo debut, “Only Built for Infinity Links,” without the third Migos member, Offset.
The killing marks the latest in a series of senseless slayings that have affected rappers in crucial music markets like Los Angeles, where rapper PnB Rock was tragically killed recently.
