‘Gone too soon’: Emmitt Smith, others react to death of Migos rapper Takeoff

The worlds of music and sports were shaken after the rapper Takeoff, best known for his work with the Grammy-nominated trio Migos, died following a shooting early Tuesday outside a bowling alley in Houston.
Kirsnick Khari Ball, 28, was part of Migos along with Quavo and Offset, and their music transcended into multiple forms of entertainment.
Among the many mourning the loss was Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. The former Dallas Cowboys star posted a video Tuesday morning of himself with the group saying, “Saddened by the news of losing @1YoungTakeoff. RIP my friend… I will never forget the first day we all met.
“@Migos Wow gone too soon #StopTheViolence.”
Saddened by the news of losing @1YoungTakeoff. RIP my friend… I will never forget the first day we all met. @Migos Wow gone too soon. #StopTheViolence pic.twitter.com/uyaNHwRjJW — Emmitt Smith (@EmmittSmith22) November 1, 2022
Police responded shortly after 2:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting at 810 Billiards & Bowling, where dozens of people had gathered on a balcony outside of the third-floor bowling alley, police said. Officers discovered one man dead when they arrived. An Associated Press reporter at the scene observed a body loaded into a medical examiner’s van around 10 a.m., more than seven hours after the shooting.
Security guards who were in the area heard the shooting but did not see who did it, a police spokesperson said. Two other people were injured and taken to hospitals in private vehicles.
No arrests have been announced and few details were released about what led up to the shooting, but Houston police planned a news conference for Tuesday afternoon. Media members at the scene later Tuesday morning were being kept across the street, which was otherwise blocked off to the public, and 810 Billiards & Bowling’s management did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.
Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset. They first broke through with the massive hit “Versace” in 2013. The song was remixed by Drake, heightening its popularity.
The group had four Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, though Takeoff was not on their multi-week No. 1 hit “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. They put out a trilogy of albums called “Culture,” “Culture II” and “Culture III,” with the first two albums hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. They also earned an ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2018, for their streaming success with multiplatinum songs like “Motorsport (featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj),” “Stir Fry,” and “Walk It Talk It.”
More reaction from social media:
RIP takeoff 🙏🏿 — Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 1, 2022
Man what the heck is going on today? Takeoff 28, Mike Zimmer son 38, and Davido son 3yrs old, all dead. Man yall stay prayed up please. Go hug somebody you love. Seriously. Call em or something. This day just getting worse by the hour. Blessings, peace and prayers to everybody 🙏🏾 — Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) November 1, 2022
Over a dice game man!?! It’s never that serious. Just fight it out and move on. A DICE GAME!?! COME ON!! Wow man!! — Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) November 1, 2022
Rest in Peace Kirshnik “Takeoff” Khari Ball
Takeoff’s legacy lives on in Atlanta and across the world
Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends pic.twitter.com/27UbMtCLkY — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 1, 2022
We are heartbroken over the passing of Takeoff, a passionate Hawks fan and pillar of Atlanta culture.
Sending our love to his family, friends, and all who are mourning his loss today. pic.twitter.com/amqFhkIUqR — Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 1, 2022
Just heard the horrible news that @1YoungTakeoff was shot and killed. Thoughts are with his family and of course, Offset and Quavo. 💔 Damn. https://t.co/hLjsZOf0Zt — Kayla Braxton (@KaylaBraxtonWWE) November 1, 2022
Sick about @1YoungTakeoff . I met him a few times and was such a bright light. May he shine eternally now. — Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) November 1, 2022
RIP @1YoungTakeoff 🙏
Thank you for your immense and lasting contributions to music and culture. — NBA 2K (@NBA2K) November 1, 2022
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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