Takeoff Dead at 28 After Being Shot in Houston (UPDATE)

Takeoff and Quavo recently released their first album together as a duo, 'Only Built for Infinity Links.' In 2021, Migos concluded their 'Culture' trilogy.

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UPDATED NOV. 1, 8:23 p.m. ET: Quality Control has shared their official statement on Takeoff’s death. 

“Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated,” they wrote. “Please respect his family and friends as we continue to process this monumental loss.”

See original story from 11/1/22 below.

TMZ has reported that Takeoff is dead after being shot in the Houston, Texas area overnight. He was 28.

According to the report, which cited police sources and several alleged witnesses, local officials were first notified of the shooting “shortly after 2:30 a.m.” Both Quavo and Takeoff were at the site, which is said to have been a bowling alley where a dice game was taking place. At one point, an altercation is alleged to have started, followed by gunfire, although additional details regarding what transpired in the moments leading up to the shooting have not been made public.
A separate report from regional outlet KPRC-TV, meanwhile, pointed to a pair of recently shared statements from the Houston Police Department (HPD), which said early Tuesday morning they would not be releasing “an identity of the deceased victim” at this time. Additionally, HPD said two additional injured victims had been taken to nearby hospitals. The outlet later said a Migos representative had confirmed that Takeoff had been fatally shot in Houston during what was reported to be a “private party.” 

Later in the day, Houston Police held a press conference in regards to the incident and confirmed that it was in fact Takeoff that was killed in the shooting.

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Homicide investigator Sgt. Michael Arrington said, “A large group of people had gathered at the front door area just outside the building, and it led to an argument where the shooting took place from the disagreement. A lot of people that were there, fled the scene and did not stick around to give a statement.” 

“I spoke to this young man’s mother just an hour ago. I want everybody to understand the pain, the suffering of a mother,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner added. “I ask that we all pray for his mother, his family and all of his friends who are still in deep pain and shock right now.”

Houston police is asking anyone with any information to come forward.

“We will solve this crime, let us solve this crime. Let us bring the person or persons to justice,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnick Khari Ball, last month released his and Quavo’s first album together as a duo, Only Built for Infinity Links. In June of last year, Migos closed out its Culture trilogy with Culture III.

In 2011, the Georgia trio—comprised of family members Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset—made their debut under the Migos name with the Juug Season mixtape before going on to release a slew of increasingly popular projects, including the “Versace”-featuring Y.R.N. tape in 2013 and the aforementioned Culture trilogy, the first two entries of which debuted in the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

The Last Rocket, Takeoff’s lone solo album, arrived in 2018 and featured the single “Last Memory.” In recent months, although no formal announcements had been made regarding a split, Migos had been widely considered to be on pause while the members further explored other artistic territory.

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On Monday, Takeoff and Quavo—as a duo, often referred to as Unc and Phew—released a new video for their Only Built for Infinity Links track “Messy.” When speaking with Complex for a recent interview, Quavo pointed to part of what made Takeoff’s approach to songwriting such a crucial element to both the Migos creative process and the Unc and Phew sessions.

“On a lot of the Migos records, [Takeoff] would anchor the song,” Quavo told Complex last month. “Now on a lot of these records, he comes in and is popping off. We are setting up alley-oops like Trae Young and John Collins!”

RIP. 

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