Migos rapper Takeoff was killed by a “stray bullet”, his record company has claimed.
The 28-year-old, Grammy-nominated musician died on Tuesday in a shooting at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said he did not want to speculate on whether Takeoff was the target.
“I would not expect him to be involved but I do want to wait on the investigation – but we have no reason to believe that he was involved in anything criminal at the time, just as people describe him as very peaceful, loving, a great entertainer.”
He pleaded with witnesses at the scene to come forward.
The shooting took place at about 02:30 local time (07:30 GMT) on a balcony outside the 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley, where Takeoff had reportedly been playing dice with his uncle and bandmate, Quavo.
Police said 40 to 50 guests had been at a private party when someone opened fire. When they arrived, officers said they found a large crowd and a man with a gunshot wound to the head or neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other people, a 24-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, were injured and were driven to hospital in private vehicles. No arrests have been made.
Police Chief Finner said “at least two firearms” were involved in the incident” and that there were “at least two individuals pulling triggers around here”.
Takeoff, real name Kirsnick Khari Ball, was one third of the chart-topping Atlanta band Migos, whose hits included Walk It Talk It, Stir Fry and Versace.
Tributes to the star have flooded social media, with friends, collaborators and fans sharing their devastation over his loss.
Drake, whose remix of Versace gave the band their first taste of chart success 201,3 wrote on Instagram: “I got the best memories of all of us seeing the world together and bringing light to every city we touch. That’s what I’ll focus on for now.”
Gucci Mane, who recently collaborated with Takeoff and his uncle and bandmate Quavo on the song Us vs. Them, shared a photo of the rapper on Instagram, saying news of his death “broke my heart”.
Fellow Atlanta legends Outkast echoed the statement, sharing a photo of Takeoff with the caption: “Rest in peace, Takeoff. Sending our deepest condolences and prayers to his family, friends and community of people touched by his craft.”
Rapper Desiigner, who rose up at the same time as Migos, openly wept on an Instagram Live stream and said he was quitting rap.
“Why do we do this?” he asked through tears. “I’m done [with] rap. It’s done, it’s done, it’s done, it’s done. Not to Takeoff, bro. It’s done.”
Other musicians asked fans not to share videos of Takeoff’s final moments on social media.
Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, who scored two number one albums in the US in the 2010s.
His mother flew to Houston following his death, Police Chief Finner told reporters.
