Migos rapper Takeoff was killed by a stray bullet, and his record label said he issued a statement condemning “senseless violence.”
The 28-year-old hip-hop star was pronounced dead at the scene After being shot outside a bowling alley in Houston, Texasin the early hours of Tuesday morning.
take offreal name Kirsnick Khari Ball, is known alongside Quavo and Offset as a member of the Atlanta rap trio Migos.
Takeoff is a member of the rap trio Migos, along with his cousin Offset and uncle Quavo
Representatives of record label Quality Control Music paid tribute on social media, saying they were shocked by his death.
“It is with broken hearts and deep sadness that we grieve the loss of our beloved brother Kirsnick Khari Ball, known to the world as Takeoff,” the statement read.
“Senseless violence and a stray bullet took another life from this world and we were devastated.
“Please respect his family and friends as we all continue to deal with this enormous loss.”
Houston police are appealing for witnesses to provide information. No arrests have been made so far.
Police said they were called to the scene at 2.34am local time (7.34am UK) after reports of shooting outside a billiards and bowling alley in Houston. They said private gatherings of about 40 people, including takeoffs, had been held there.
“Sometimes the hip-hop community has a bad reputation”
Takeoff was found dead at the scene and two others, a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with non-life threatening conditions.
At a news conference, Police Chief Troy Finner said he had received numerous calls praising Takeoff as a “great young man.”
Mr Fenner said: “Sometimes the hip hop community has a bad reputation and I know, obviously from the city and from the people I have a personal relationship with, there are a lot of great people in our hip hop community and I respect them.
“But back to take off. I got a lot of calls from Houston and outside of Houston, and everyone said what a great young man this was, what a calm he was, what a great artist.
“I’m calling on everyone, hip-hop artists in Houston and across the country, that we (have to) discipline ourselves.
“There are so many talented people in this community, men and women, whom I love and respect, and we all need to stand together to make sure no one disrupts the industry.”
‘Too many young people of color are injured or killed’
Mr Fenner said he would not speculate on whether the takeoff was the intended target.
“Based on what people said about him, he was respected and not violent,” he said.
“I don’t want him involved, but I do want to wait for the investigation… We have no reason to believe he was involved in any criminal activity at the time, as people describe him as a very peaceful, loving, great entertainer.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also spoke at the news conference, saying, “We have too many young people of color injured or killed, their futures cut off, and families and friends left to mourn.
“It’s not necessarily our reality, it’s not necessarily our future. So as it relates to this particular incident, I want to say to people in this city and beyond – we’re going to fix this crime. “
Music stars such as Dave, Sean Paul, AJ Tracey, Kid Cudi, Khalid and Ja Rule have all paid tribute to Takeoff.
Migos consists of Takeoff and his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, who is married to rapper Cardi B.
The trio first rose to fame in 2013 with the single Versace, and went on to release multiple hits, including the 2016 Grammy-nominated Bad And Boujee, Motorsport (with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B) and Stir Fry.
The band also played a fictional version of themselves in the American comedy-drama “Atlanta,” which was written and starred by Donald Glover.