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By Jamie Burton
Senior TV & Film Reporter (Interviews)
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Online tributes are pouring in for Migos rapper Takeoff after he was reportedly shot and killed in Houston on Tuesday morning.
The Houston Police Department has yet to confirm the news, but TMZ, Rolling Stone and a representative for the band confirmed the death of 28-year-old Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball. Fellow Migos rapper Quavo was also present at the incident, but was reportedly unharmed.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Houston Police said in a statement: "Downtown officers are on a shooting at 1200 Polk. One victim was found deceased upon arrival."
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Two hours later, authorities updated the press on the situation: "Two other victims taken in private vehicles to hospitals."
Confirming the victim was male, they added in the statement: "We are not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences."
Tributes and condolences from famous names came rolling in as soon as the news broke.
"Rip Takeoff... this s*** has to STOP," wrote musician Ja Rule. "Sending love to friends and family."
"Rest in peace to takeoff I just spoke to him too ... I'm in shock right now, I can't believe it," American YouTuber Adin Ross wrote on Twitter. "I pray to god it's fake. This [...] just isn't fair bro." Fellow social media star Jake Paul wrote: "Senseless killings need to stop. Need to unify. RIP TAKEOFF."
Premier League soccer star and Ivory Coast international Wilfred Zaha was also in disbelief, tweeting Takeoff's name with a crying emoji.
Haiti soccer player Duckens Nazon also paid tribute, sharing the album cover of Takeoff's The Last Rocket, writing: "Fly high Takeoff."
"Takeoff was legit my favorite. I'm in absolute tears," sports reporter Anita Abayomi wrote. "Can't imagine what his family and friends are going through."
Hollywood Unlocked CEO Jason Lee appeared to confirm the news and added that Quavo was there, but not shot. "I never got to interview the Migos as a group - my favorite rap group. This is insane. Sad AF," he wrote.
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He refused to share the video footage of the aftermath that is being shown on the internet, but he described the scene for those who didn't want to watch.
"Out of respect to the family we would never post the photos and videos we've seen but the latest shows Quavo distraught standing over and walking around Takeoff who's laying in a pool of blood," Lee wrote.
British rapper Not3s called it a "sad day for music." He said, "Rest in perfect peace Takeoff! Real [G.O.A.T.] in this game."
The incident is alleged to have happened at the 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston at around 2:30 a.m.
Just over an hour before that, Takeoff had posted a picture of himself on his Instagram Stories, seemingly at the venue. Before this, Quavo posted a video of himself and three other men driving around Houston.
On Monday afternoon, Takeoff tweeted out a link to the new music video for his and Quavo's song "Messy."
Update 11/01/22 at 10:47 a.m. ET; This article was updated to add further online tributes.
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