The Tragic Death Of Takeoff

Brooke Hammond

(June 18, 1994 – November 1, 2022)

Kirshnik Khari Ball

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Kirshnik Khari Ball, born on June 18, 1994, and best known as Takeoff, was an American rapper. He was best known as the youngest member of the rapping hip-hop trio, Migos. Takeoff was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and raised by his mother with his two cousins, Quavo and Offset (other members of the Migos). Migos achieved their first number-one single in 2016 with "Bad and Boujee" featuring Lil Uzi Vert, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of January 21, 2017. The group released 16 albums from 2016 to 2021. Although Takeoff was at the high point of his career, that all changed on the night of November 1, 2022.

Takeoff and about 40 others gathered outside the bowling alley after a private party around 1:00 a.m. Takeoff's uncle and fellow Migos member, Quavo, who was present during the shooting but was not injured, had posted a video earlier in the night driving around Houston with James Prince, who was celebrating his 58th birthday. News broke that there had been a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, Texas. The Houston Police Department reported that a fatal shooting happened at 2:40 a.m. The victim was found dead on arrival while two other victims were "taken in private vehicles to hospitals." Houston police later confirmed that Takeoff had been killed in the shooting. It was reported that an argument broke out after a dice game that led to the fatal shooting, ending Takeoff’s life with one bullet to the head. His record label stated Takeoff was killed by a "stray bullet." Houston Police Chief, Troy Finner, said he did not believe Takeoff was the intended target.