Takeoff's Official Cause Of Death Is Now Confirmed
Atlanta has lost another legend. Takeoff, who was widely known for being a part of the legendary rap group Migos, was shot and killed at a bowling alley in Houston around 2:30 a.m. on the morning of November 1, TMZ confirmed. He was 28 years old. The rapper, whose real name was Kirsnik Khari Ball, was reportedly attending a private party with his uncle and fellow group member Quavo. Born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Takeoff's untimely death sent shockwaves throughout the city of Atlanta as thousands were left distraught by the announcement of his death. "Takeoff's legacy lives on in Atlanta and across the world," the Atlanta Falcons tweeted.
Dozens of celebrities like Drake, DJ Khaled, T.I., and Meek Mill also all took to Instagram to share their condolences for the "Stir Fry" rapper and his family. Takeoff's longtime label, Quality Control, broke its silence on social media following the devastating news. "Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated," the record label said in a statement.
While police continue to investigate what led up to the deadly shooting, Takeoff's cause of death has officially been revealed.
Takeoff was fatally shot in the head
According to the Harris County Medical Examiner's office, Takeoff was fatally shot in several places. He suffered gunshot wounds to the "head and torso into the arm," (via Hollywood Life). The rapper's death is now officially ruled a homicide. Although the investigation is still underway, Houston Police are having trouble locating the shooter and are urging those who were in attendance to speak up and provide more information about what took place at the bowling alley.
"I want this to resonate with everybody: What if it was your brother? What if it was your son?" police chief Troy Finner said in at a press conference (via NPR). "You would want somebody to step up," he continued. "So please step up and get the information to us so we can bring some closure to this family that is hurting."
Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff have been dominating the rap scene for more than a decade and are known for chart-topping records like "Fight Night," "MotorSport," and "Stir Fry," to name a few. Although Migos broke up earlier this year, the group will never be the same. However, Takeoff's legacy will live on for years to come.
How did Takeoff get shot?
Takeoff's death is proof of how quickly life can change. In the moments leading up to his passing, Takeoff was playing dice at a bowling alley with his Migos bandmate Quavo. According to TMZ, he, Quavo, and a group of others eventually migrated outside of the building. In a video obtained by the outlet, Takeoff can be seen standing behind Quavo as Quavo argues with someone amongst the group. It's unknown exactly what caused the dispute, although a voice can be heard speaking about "basketball" and other unrelated things. Soon after, gunshots can be heard as the crown disperses. Unfortunately, Takeoff was hit multiple times and died at the scene.
The most tragic detail about Takeoff's death is that the bullets that killed him may not have even been meant for him. Rolling Stone described Takeoff's killing as "a random instance of violence." Likewise, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner stated during a press conference following Takeoff's death that there was "no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal at the time," according to Newsweek. Rapper 21 Savage also spoke about Takeoff's demeanor. "Takeoff the type of n**** like if I see Takeoff arguing with a n**** I know the other n**** wrong," shared Savage on the "Off the Record" podcast. He added, "He just not confrontational" (via HipHopDX).
Has Takeoff's killer been caught?
Following the news of Takeoff's death, his fans and followers flocked to social media posting their theories about who shot the "Pure Water" rapper. And while many of their claims are so far unsubstantiated, the officials are actively searching for his killer. According to a report by Fox 5 Atlanta, Houston officials have identified a few leads in connection to the case. They have yet to release any names to the public.
With that said, a video obtained by TMZ shows an unidentified "person of interest" that was amid the crowd prior to Takeoff's death. In the video, a man wearing all black can be seen holding his hand against a gun in his pocket as the argument between Quavo and the group escalates. As Quavo walks away, you can hear the sound of gunshots. It's unclear if the man in the video actually fired; however, the publication notes that he raises his gun at the end of the video.