Cops on hunt for Takeoff’s killer, ask public for help after Migos rapper killed in bowling alley shooting
Houston police said they have no reason to believe that rapper Takeoff was involved in anything criminal when he was fatally shot at a bowling alley early Tuesday.
There were at least 40 people at the private event where officials said two gunmen opened fire fatally killing the beloved Migos groups member — but many witnesses scattered and fled before cops arrived.
Officials are now asking for the public’s help to identify the person or people who killed Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnick Khari Ball, during the altercation outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling at about 2:40 a.m.
“I’m asking for any of the persons who were at this private party … that have information on the shooter or shooters please provide that information to HPD and let us solve it,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “We will solve this particular case.”
Officials said the shooting had broken out near the front-door of the bowling alley, which is located in a downtown retail center.
A bunch of people gathered at the entrance after the party and got into some type of argument that turned deadly. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner declined to comment on reports there was a dice game going on at the time.
Takeoff’s uncle, Quavo, a fellow member off the Atlanta-based, Grammy-nominated group Migos was also at the party when the shooting broke out, but wasn’t injured.
Two other unidentified victims – a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman — drove themselves to local hospitals and were treated, police said.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner lamented that, because of violence such as this, the hip-hop community sometimes gets a bad name.
“I got many calls from Houston and outside of Houston and everybody spoke of what a great young man this is, how peaceful he is – what a great artist,” Finner said of Takeoff.
“And I’m calling upon everybody – hip hop artists in Houston and around the nation: We got to police ourselves. There are so many talented individuals, men and women, in the community, who, again, I love and respect. We need to stand together and make sure nobody tears down that industry.”
“What if it was your brother? What if it was your son?” he went on. “You’d want somebody to step up. So please step up. Get the information to us so we can bring some closure to this family who’s hurting right now.”
Finner said he had spoken with the rap artist’s grieving mother who had flown into town. He couldn’t say whether Takeoff was the intended target.
“It doesn’t matter how famous you are, you may not be famous at all,” Turner said. “Anybody loses his or her life is a life lost and there are family members and friends who are grieving as a result.”
After the shooting, fans of Takeoff flocked to the scene of the shooting in mourning.
“He was one of our favorites, mine and my brother’s,” said Isiah Lopez, who came from the Houston suburb of Humble to lay roses near the site of the shooting. “As soon as my brother called me and said, ‘Takeoff is gone,’ I had to come over here and pay my respects.”
Atlanta-based Migos started in 2008 and released songs like “Versace” and “Bad and Boujee” but apparently split up with third member iOffset, who is married to Cardi B. Takeoff and Quavo continued as a duo sometimes going as Unc & Phew, and released a music video for their song “Messy” last month.
With Post wires