Takeoff, a member of hip-hop trio Migos, was fatally shot at a party Nov. 1 at a Houston bowling alley, police confirmed. Takeoff, whose legal name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was 28 years old. Rolling Stone and TMZ first reported the news. Two others were injured during the shooting but are reportedly expected to survive. Quavo, a member of Migos and Ball’s uncle, was also present at the bowling alley but was not injured, according to reports. “It is with broken hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the loss of our beloved brother Kirshnik Khari Ball, known to the world as Takeoff,” Migos’ label Quality Control said in a statement. “Senseless violence and a stray bullet took another life from this world and we are devastated.” The label also asked: “Please respect his family and friends as we all continue to process this monumental loss.” Ball, the youngest member of Migos, was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 1994. He began rapping with family members Quavo and Offset in 2008, initially as Polo Club before changing their name to Migos. The trio’s 2013 track, “Versace,” which was mixed by Drake, boosted their popularity and incorporated the group’s patented triplet flow. By 2016 they were superstars, scoring a No. 1 hit with “Bad and Boujee” as well as a No. 1 hit on the Billboard 200 with their album Culture (they would repeat the feat a year later with its follow-up, Culture II). Takeoff has long been regarded as one of the core voices of the trio thanks to his sharp, heavy mic vocals and understated demeanor. He would later find success on his own with The Last Rocket, his only solo effort, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. In October, he and Quavo released Only Built for Infinity Links as a duet. the project bowed at No. 7 on the charts. The shooting unfolded around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities. When the police arrived, they found Ball dead. During a news conference this afternoon, Houston Police Department Sergeant Michael Arrington said he had booked a private party at the bowling alley and that the shooting unfolded after the incident. A “large group of people” then gathered near the front door and there was an argument. Police are currently seeking witnesses to the shooting. Drew Fiedling, an attorney who has represented Ball, told the New York Times that his death was “a devastating loss, particularly for Atlanta.” “When you’re around takeoff, there’s a sense of peace in its aura,” he said. “He listens to you, looks at you, is more focused on what you have to say than what he has to say. People were starting to learn about Takeoff. It was his time to shine.” This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
