American rapper Takeoff, star of the group Migos, shot dead at 28

Takeoff, the Migos rapper, was shot in front of his uncle and Quavo, his bandmate, outside a bowling alley in Texas.

Credit: AP

The 28-year-old, part of a hugely famous hip-hop trio around the world, was shot dead at a private party as a group gathered outside 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston at 2:30 a.m. Houston police confirmed that a person was found dead at the scene at 1200 Polk, but would not confirm the identity of the deceased.

Officers confirmed there were 40 to 50 people at the scene when they discovered a man with a gunshot wound to the head or neck. Security guards in the area heard the shooting but did not see who did it, according to a source familiar with the investigation. According to gossip site TMZ, they heard five gunshots and witnesses told officers they heard multiple gunshots and screams.

Pictures from the scene would show the rapper lying in a pool of blood after being shot in the head during the altercation. The shooting came hours after he posted an Instagram Story in which he is seen having a good time with loved ones in a pool hall. Two other victims were also taken to hospital in a private vehicle, and their condition is unknown.

Caught in a shootout

Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, had joined his uncle Quavo for a game of dice before the shooting , said witnesses and law enforcement sources, still to our colleagues at TMZ. CCTV footage from the scene shows Takeoff lying on the ground, as Quavo rushes to his side. A group then begins to gather around the injured rapper and tries to move him, but they quickly knock him down as Quavo cries out for help.

For the moment, the circumstances of the tragedy are not clear, but we should know more in the coming days. Case to follow.