Quavo Assistant Shot in Melee That Killed Takeoff

There were two other people shot in the gunfire that killed Takeoff -- and one of those people is Quavo's assistant -- TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Joshua "Wash" Washington is the 23-year-old male who was shot and rushed to a local hospital by someone at the scene in the minutes following the melee ... cops described his injuries as non-life threatening.

Wash has been close with Quavo for years, and describes himself as Quavo's assistant and part of operations management at Huncho Records on his social media profile.

As we reported, there was also a 24-year-old female who was shot ... she was also taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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While the shooter (or shooters) have yet to be publicly named, the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office says Takeoff was shot in both the head and torso early Monday morning.

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In video obtained by TMZ from the scene, you can see Quavo in an argument and then start to walk away as shots ring out. There's also video showing one man holding a gun to his side ... police have named that man as a person of interest in Takeoff's death.

Ray Guy NFL Legend Dead At 73

NFL Hall of Famer Ray Guy -- the most legendary punter of all time -- has passed away. He was 73 years old.

Guy became the first pure punter to ever be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft ... going 23rd overall to the Oakland Raiders in 1973 after a stellar career at the University of Southern Mississippi.

He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Raiders in 1977, 1981 and 1984.

Guy's résumé is as good as it gets -- he was a 6-time first-team All-Pro selection, 2-time second-team All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL's 75th and 100th Anniversary teams.

Guy was famous for his long-hanging punts ... which allowed the Raiders to run downfield in coverage before opposing teams were able to get off a return.

The Ray Guy Award -- named after the icon -- is presented to the best punter in college football every year.

Guy was enshrined in Canton in 2014 -- the first punter to receive the honor. During his speech, he famously said, "Now the Hall of Fame has a complete team."

RIP

LeBron James Honors Takeoff On Instagram ... Swaps Avatar Photo

LeBron James is paying tribute to Takeoff in a big way ... changing his Instagram avatar to a photo of the late rapper -- something the Lakers superstar rarely does.

James' IG update happened Wednesday night just before the Lakers took on the New Orleans Pelicans in Los Angeles ... when he swapped out a pic of his family for a photo of Takeoff, who was tragically killed in front of a Houston bowling alley on Tuesday.

The pic shows a stoic Takeoff in a suit and tie ... wearing a pair of dark sunglasses.

The move is a very meaningful one for James -- whose IG profile photos almost always consists of pics of him or his family. Most recently, his two sons, Bronny and Bryce, held the honor.

37-year-old James previously used the gesture to honor Kobe Bryant following his tragic death in 2020.

Of course, the Migos and King James are fans of each other ... remember, the rap trio turned LBJ's famous "Taco Tuuuuuuesday" lingo into an actual song two years ago -- and Bron was hyped over it.

LeBron has yet to publicly comment on Takeoff's passing, though he did share a photo of the Migos rapper in one of his IG stories shortly after his death.

Takeoff was just 28 years old.

Takeoff Shot in Head & Torso ... According to Coroner

Migos rapper Takeoff was shot multiple times, resulting in his death ... according to the report from the medical examiner's office.

The Harris County Medical Examiner lists Takeoff's primary cause of death as "penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm."

As we reported, Takeoff was gunned down after shots rang out following an argument outside a Houston bowling alley early Tuesday morning.

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In video obtained by TMZ, you see Takeoff's Migos partner Quavo in an argument before the shooting starts. Takeoff was standing just inches from Quavo during the heated exchange, but at no point did he seem to be a part of the back and forth.

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While it's currently unclear who fired the fatal shots, we've also obtained video of one man holding a gun in the seconds leading up to the gunfire. Cops tell us that man is currently a person of interest in the death investigation.

A statement from Migos representatives Tuesday read, "Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated." Quavo and Offset have not yet made public statements about Takeoff's murder, though Offset did change his Instagram avatar to a photo of the rapper.

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RIP TAKEOFF

Takeoff was only 28.

Takeoff's Death Offset Changes Profile Pic ... Honors His Groupmate

UPDATE

9:55 AM PT -- Offset was scheduled to perform at MGM Music Hall in Boston tomorrow, but an employee at the venue says that's no longer happening due to Takeoff's passing. We're told the event will still go on as planned, but Offset won't be there.

Offset has yet to speak out about the loss of his Migos brother Takeoff ... but the rapper is paying tribute to his friend and family member through his social media profile.

Offset's Instagram page changed avatars Wednesday morning -- it now shows a picture of Takeoff smiling for the camera with a heart emoji.

Clearly, Offset's still reeling from Tuesday's fatal shooting ... although the artist hasn't joined the flood of friends and fans in posting about the loss of Takeoff.

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As we reported, Takeoff was with fellow Migos member, Quavo, around 2:30 AM Tuesday -- Quavo was in a heated discussion with an unknown group of guys before someone in the crowd opened fire.

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TMZ obtained this video -- a new angle of what went down only seconds prior to the gunfire -- and you can see a man dressed in black, with a handgun in his right hip pocket.

While nothing in the video proves the man fired the first shot, there is a point where he's seen raising his weapon and seemingly firing it -- but it's unclear if his weapon was pointed in the direction of Takeoff or Quavo.

Originally Published -- 9:21 AM PT

Tom Coughlin Wife Judy Dead At 77 ... Married 55 years

Tom Coughlin's wife Judy, who was married to the 2-time Super Bowl-winning head coach for 55 years, passed away Tuesday morning after battling a rare and incurable brain disorder. She was 77 years old.

TC announced the terrible news Wednesday morning ... sharing a heartfelt statement on Judy's death.

"My cherished wife and our beloved mother and grandmother, Judy Whitaker Coughlin, passed away this morning at the age of 77," the longtime head coach wrote ... adding, "Judy was a remarkable woman in every way."

"She lived a life filled with love and unselfishly gave her heart and soul to others. Judy made you feel like an old friend from the first hug to the last. She was a mother to all on and off the field."

Coughlin continued ... "For everyone who knew and loved Judy, the enormity of her absence cannot be put into words, but the immense kindness she showed to others will always endure. Our hearts are broken, but we know she is free from suffering and at peace with our Lord."

Judy was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2020 ... but the presence of the illness wasn't known until Tom wrote a guest essay for The NY Times in August 2021, where he openly discussed his wife's sickness.

The Mayo Clinic defines the disease as "an uncommon brain disorder that causes serious problems with walking, balance and eye movements, and later with swallowing."

The disorder can ultimately lead to life-threatening complications.

In Coughlin's essay, you could feel his anguish.

"As so many of you are gearing up for another NFL season, I will be sitting far from the sidelines, at the bedside and holding the hand of my biggest supporter, my beloved wife, the mother of our children and a grandmother to our grandchildren," he wrote.

"After several years of doctors trying to pinpoint the disease that has been slowly taking her from us, Judy was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2020. It is a brain disorder that erodes an individual’s ability to walk, speak, think and control body movements. It steals memories and the ability to express emotions and, sadly, is incurable."

Throughout Tom's extraordinary coaching career, Judy always remained by his side. She was an integral part in their charity, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation ... and was beloved by Tom's players.

Takeoff's Death Label Honcho's Emotional Message ... Violence Isn't the Answer

The head of Takeoff's label wants his fans, the public and hip hop, in general, to take one thing from his death ... violence isn't the way to go when things get heated.

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Pierre "Pee" Thomas, CEO of Quality Control, posted an emotional message late Tuesday night ... starting by saying anyone who knows them "knows how much I love you" -- noting the 28-year-old's death was incredibly unexpected.

Pee says the loss should remind everyone how valuable life is and adds, "I want our community to remember that we don’t have to continue to result to violence every time there is a disagreement. It’s ok to love your brother and sister."

Pee's message, largely written directly to Takeoff, ends with this heartfelt statement -- "You came from the stars so I know you will forever be up there watching down on all of us. I will forever love you. 💔."

As we reported, Quality Control co-founder Kevin Lee -- AKA Coach K -- suggested Takeoff was killed by a stray bullet. Police have yet to confirm that theory, but video TMZ obtained does prove Takeoff was not involved in the heated discussion that preceded the gunfire.

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The face-off went down around 2:30 AM Tuesday, immediately after Quavo was having an argument with an unknown group of guys. While it's hard to make out what's being said exactly, Quavo's tone seemed to be let's just keep the peace and keep things moving.

Someone in the crowd disagreed and opened fire as Quavo, Takeoff and co. were trying to walk away.

Takeoff Murder Quavo in Heated Argument Before Fatal Shots ... New Video From Shooting

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UPDATE

5:38 PM PT -- Takeoff's manager just broke his silence on the rapper's shooting death, suggesting Takeoff was killed by a stray bullet.

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The Migos rapper's rep released a statement late Tuesday on social media, saying ... "Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated."

UPDATE

Quavo was toe-to-toe with a group of guys outside that Houston bowling alley -- Takeoff and others had his back while he argued for more than 30 seconds before the shooting began.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained this video of the showdown around 2:30 AM -- you can see and hear Quavo arguing with someone, and Takeoff is a few feet behind him. There's a discussion about playing basketball, and someone -- possibly Quavo -- says "I don't get down like that!"

Seconds later, there's a single crack of gunfire ... and when everyone starts running, a flurry of shots are firing through the crowd. You can hear more than 10 shots in total, and it sounds like they came from at least 2 different weapons.

Chaos ensued, with folks running in all directions to escape the hail of bullets. As we first reported, Takeoff was shot near his head, and despite efforts to resuscitate him -- made by Quavo and a bystander -- he was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Members of the Houston Police Department held a press conference Tuesday afternoon and revealed a 23-year-old male and a 24-year-old female were also hit, and went to a hospital for treatment. Cops say most of the witnesses to the shooting fled the scene, and they're asking them to come forward with information about what happened.

Takeoff was only 28.

Originally Published -- 2:08 PM PT

Shakur Stevenson Standing Inches From Takeoff Before Deadly Shooting

UPDATE

10:13 AM PT -- 11/2 -- Shakur Stevenson was hanging with Quavo and Takeoff throughout the night ... even posing for a picture with the two rap stars prior to the tragedy.

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UPDATE

9:40 PM PT -- Shakur broke his silence on this morning's shooting ... writing "R.I.P Takeoff 🙏" on social media.

Boxing star Shakur Stevenson was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Takeoff right before the rapper was shot and killed early Tuesday morning in Houston, TMZ Sports has learned.

Thankfully, Shakur wasn't physically injured.

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25-year-old Stevenson, a former champ who's regarded as one of the best fighters in the world, was seen on video directly next to the Migos rapper ... wearing a blue hat as an argument turned deadly.

Shakur is from New Jersey ... but now lives in Houston. He was seen partying with Jas Prince earlier in the week. He's also friends with the Migos.

Takeoff was tragically murdered around 2:30 AM Tuesday morning outside of a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling ... following a heated argument between Quavo and another man.

It's during the verbal altercation that Shakur was seen next to Takeoff.

Houston PD has asked witnesses to come forward to recount their side of the story. It's unclear if police have been in contact with Stevenson or his people.

Originally Published -- 11/1 5:18 PM PT

Remembering Rappers Gone Too Soon by Gun Violence ... Takeoff, XXX, Tupac, Nipsey

Takeoff's shocking slaying in Houston is prompting the rap community to remember far too many young talents who tragically lost their lives due to gun violence.

Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, was only 24 when his car was gunned down back in '97 ... just 6 months after Tupac had been shot to death. Both men's murders remain unsolved.

More recently, Young Dolph was killed in 2021 outside a Memphis bakery. He was on his way to hand out a truckload of turkeys in his old neighborhood when he met his violent and untimely death.

PnB Rock was climbing the Billboard charts back in 2016 ... but his career, and life, were tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in September during a robbery at a Roscoe's in Los Angeles.

Of course, there have been so many others, both fatalities -- like Pop Smoke, Nipsey Hussle, Slim 400 and XXXTentacion -- and those who luckily survived ... like Lil Tjay and 50 Cent.

Nipsey was gunned down outside his Marathon clothing store in his own neighborhood ... with at least 10 bullets striking Nipsey's body and his murderer also kicking him in the head.

XXX was only 20 years old when he was shot dead as he was leaving a motorcycle dealer in Florida. XXX was blocked from exiting the parking lot by a black SUV, with two gunmen hopping out and approaching his car. A struggle ensued, with the gunmen reaching inside XXX's car for a small bag before ultimately opening fire.

While police have made some arrests -- notably in PnB, Nipsey and Dolph's deaths -- the loss, of lives and talent, hangs heavy over the industry.

Rich the Kid Takeoff's Death Hitting Hard ... 'We Used to Share Shoes!!!'

Shock and outrage continue to pour in over Migos rapper Takeoff's shooting death, and Rich the Kid is especially reeling over the tragic news.

In a series of heartfelt posts, RTK shared his love, old pics and text messages between him and Takeoff ... revealing they used to share clothes and shoes back in the days before they could buy whatever they want.

Takeoff, along with Offset, actually partied with RTK during his NYC birthday bash back in July -- when a Migos split seemed to be going down -- proving Takeoff was the bridge of peace between Quavo and Offset.

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AMIGOS WITH MIGOS

As we reported, Takeoff was fatally shot early Tuesday morning when Quavo got into a heated argument with some other guys outside a Houston bowling alley.

Police say 2 other people were wounded in a hail of gunfire -- at least 10 shots -- and they're both hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

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RTK also referred to Takeoff as his "twin," and someone who, obviously, did not deserve this cruel twist of fate.

Well said ... Takeoff was only 28.

RIP

California Football Star H.S. Player Shot & Killed ... Over Halloween Weekend

Richard Reed -- a star high school football player in California -- was tragically killed in a fatal shooting over the weekend. He was only 17.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department says deputies were dispatched to La Mesa Road and Jade Road in Victorville (85 miles northeast of Los Angeles) around 11 PM on Oct. 30.

They found a male with a gunshot wound lying on the street ... and sadly, the EMTs pronounced him dead on their arrival.

SBSD identified the victim as Reed, a standout football player from Silverado High School ... and his death has been ruled a homicide.

Reed was a versatile star ... playing offense, defense and special teams for the Silverado Hawks.

According to Max Preps, Reed had 269 rushing yards, 5 total touchdowns in 10 games this season ... adding 72 total tackles and 2.5 sacks on the defensive side.

He was named the All-Desert Sky League Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.

The Silverado H.S. principal says the Hawks football team is completely devastated over Reed's murder.

"Many of the players are still in shock, and when we heard the news today, football was the furthest thing from our minds," Principal Heather Conkle said ... adding the team is "unified" and will play their playoff game on Friday in his honor.

SBSD says the investigation into Reed's death is ongoing and asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Detail at (909) 890-4908.

Takeoff Dead at 28 ... Shot in Houston

UPDATE

7:11 AM PT -- In a new video you can hear Quavo on the phone, presumably with a 911 operator, and he's asking ... "What does she need to do?" A woman on the scene had said she was a nurse and was offering to help Takeoff.

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6:36 AM PT -- In emergency audio obtained by TMZ, you hear dispatchers discussing the incident -- saying 5 shots were fired -- and revealing the initial caller said they heard gunshots and people screaming.

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Takeoff, one-third of Migos, is dead after an early morning shooting in Houston ... TMZ Hip Hop has confirmed.

Law enforcement sources, and multiple witnesses, tell us the fatal incident went down shortly after 2:30 AM ... that's when cops got the call for a man shot at a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston.

We're told Takeoff and Quavo were there playing dice when an altercation broke out and that's when someone opened fire, shooting Takeoff ... either in the head or near his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

TMZ Hip Hop has obtained footage from the scene, and you can see Quavo -- in an orange shirt -- and others gathered around Takeoff. At first they tried to move him, but then put him back down, and Quavo yelled for someone to get help.

Police tell us 2 other people were shot and were taken to the hospital in private vehicles. We do not know their conditions. Quavo was not injured.

Just a couple of hours before the shooting, Takeoff posted a pic of himself lighting up at the bowling alley. Quavo had posted video several hours earlier as he drove around Houston with Jas Prince, who was celebrating his birthday.

We're told Jas was not with Quavo and Takeoff when the shooting happened.

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Takeoff, who's real name is Kirsnik Khari Ball, was the youngest member of Migos. Quavo was his uncle, and Offset his cousin.

They came together as a group in 2008 in Georgia, and became multi-platinum hitmakers ... dropping their first major hit, "Versace," in 2013. They would hit number one on Billboard in 2016 with "Bad and Boujee."

Most recently, Quavo and Takeoff had released a project as the duo, "Unc & Phew." They had just released their latest music video, "Messy," on Monday.

Takeoff was 28.

RIP

Originally Published -- 3:50 AM PT

Washington Commanders Ron Rivera's Mother Passes Away

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is mourning the death of his beloved mother, Dolores ... it was announced Tuesday.

The sad news comes a week after the 60-year-old coach missed practice due to a "personal matter" concerning his mom.

Dolores was surrounded by her husband and family members when she passed away.

"The Snyders and the entire Commanders family extend their heartfelt condolences to Coach Rivera and his family," the team said in a statement.

"The Rivera family would like to say thank you for the many kind thoughts and prayers they have received."

It is unclear if Rivera -- who joined the Commanders in 2020 -- will be on the sidelines for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Commanders are currently on a 3-game winning streak with a 4-4 record ... and battling to move up in NFC East.

RIP.

Chuck D on Takeoff Gun Violence 'Abnormal Behavior' ... Hip Hop's Lost Its Way

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Chuck D says hip hop needs to start addressing the gun violence plaguing the industry ... and killing rappers at an alarming pace.

We talked to the legendary MC on "TMZ Live" to get his thoughts on the latest shooting death in hip hop -- Migos rapper Takeoff being gunned down in Houston -- and Chuck says it's crazy how folks think it's normal to lose rappers to gun violence.

Chuck says attacking someone with a gun should be considered "abnormal behavior" ... and he's lamenting the fact it's become so commonplace in America, people almost seem to shrug it off as just a part of life.

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As we reported ... Takeoff was killed during an early morning shooting in Houston, with emergency audio revealing at least 5 shots were fired. We're told Takeoff and Quavo were playing dice at a bowling alley when an altercation broke out and someone, or multiple people, opened fire ... fatally shooting Takeoff.

Chuck D says gun violence in the hip hop community has been ignored for far too long -- he says any other industry with so many fatalities would have addressed the issue before it became normalized.

He adds ... people have grown up thinking a rapper dying young is a normal thing ... and he says it's not only about the death itself, but also the manner -- drugs and gunshots.

Problem is, Chuck says too much music glorifies guns and drugs, whereas before, it was a reflection of what was going on in the community, not a dictation.

Chuck's really preaching here ... and it's worth a listen.

Deion Sanders Bans JSU Players From Leaving Houston Hotel ... After Takeoff's Death

Deion Sanders is forbidding his Jackson State football players from leaving their Houston hotel rooms this weekend ... giving the demand in a heartfelt speech following Takeoff's tragic death.

The NFL Hall of Famer addressed the Migos rapper being shot and killed in Houston with his players on Tuesday ... pointing out the incident happened in the same city where they will play the Texas Southern Tigers on Saturday.

"Takeoff was murdered in a dice game in Houston -- where we're going," Sanders said.

"So, that eliminates all y'all leaving that hotel, 'cause it ain't happening until I give you further notice."

The 55-year-old explained to his team they may need to make drastic life changes to prevent similar incidents from happening to them.

"You cannot kick it with the same dudes you kicked it with," Sanders continued. "You cannot associate in the same realms that you associated with. You gon' have to change if you expect change."

"I'm sad because it always seems like it's us, but we wanna say we matter, we wanna say we keep it 100, but it's always us!"

Of course, Sanders and the JSU Tigers went through this type of loss almost a year ago ... when Young Dolph was tragically killed in his own hometown of Memphis.

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"I'm just sick and tired of the consistency of people, that are influential to you, are leaving us consistently -- that's our rappers," Sanders said.

"Rest in Peace, Takeoff."