Houston Officials Plead For Witnesses to Come Forward in Killing of ‘Peaceful’ Rapper Takeoff
Houston officials vowed to deliver justice in the killing of rapper Takeoff, with the chief of police calling the 28-year-old Atlantan a “peaceful” man and urging any witnesses to the shooting to come forward.
As reported by CNN, the rapper, part of the multiplatinum hip-hop trio Migos, was at a bowling alley and billiards hall where a private party was held early Tuesday. A 911 call received at 2:34 a.m. reported a shooting in progress, and officers discovered Takeoff dead on the third level, just outside the front door, police said. There were roughly 40 people at the event, many of whom left “possibly out of fear,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.
A man, 23, and woman, 24, also were injured and took private vehicles to the hospital, Sgt.
ichael Arrington of the homicide division told reporters Tuesday. He did not elaborate on their injuries but said, “They’re both going to be OK.”
Employees told police gunfire erupted after the party, when a large group of people gathered outside the front door “and it led to an argument where the shooting took place from the disagreement,” Arrington said.
“A lot of people that were there fled the scene and did not stick around to give a statement,” the sergeant said. “All we can hope is you all will reach out and give us evidence to solve the death of Takeoff.”
Investigators believe the suspect or suspects, possibly in their 20s, attended the private party, and at least two guns were discharged, Finner said. Police are in the process of tracing shell casings and reviewing surveillance footage, he said.
“Mark my words,” Finner said. “This great city, with our great citizens, with our police department – we will find who’s responsible for it. … We’re going to get them in custody, OK?”
‘What if it was your brother?’
Investigators face the challenge of an anti-snitch culture that many hip-hop artists have long embraced. Takeoff’s uncle and bandmate, Quavo, appeared on a posthumous 2020 track by Pop Smoke, “Snitching,” which decried “rats” and talking to police. Pop Smoke was fatally shot in Los Angeles months before the track was released.
