Report- Shakur Stevenson Nearby Witness To Rapper Takeoff Slaying

The Houston murder of a hip-hop superstar early Tuesday morning has now taken a twist with former two division world champion Shakur Stevenson reportedly being at the scene.

TMZ Sports reported Tuesday night that Stevenson was present and had digital photos of him standing right next to “Takeoff” (real name Kirshnik Khari Ball), who was shot death outside a Houston upscale Bowling Alley/nightclub just after 2:30am local time.

Boxing star Shakur Stevenson was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Takeoff when the rapper was shot and killed Tuesday morning in Houston. https://t.co/FLz1TTzzmx

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) November 2, 2022

The tabloid-gossip site reported that Stevenson, who is originally from New Jersey but lives part time in Houston now, was not injured in the shooting.

From an NBC news recap of what happened,

Officials said that “Takeoff” and “Quavo,” 31, another member of the hip-hop group Migos, were at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston at a private party, NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston reported, and that a man with a gunshot wound to the head or neck was pronounced dead.

Police confirmed at a news press conference Tuesday afternoon that Takeoff was killed in the shooting, which involved two guns’ being fired, shortly after 2:30 a.m.

More on the Killing of Takeoff

Police Chief Troy Finner called Takeoff  “well respected and non-violent” and said there was no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal when he was shot.

Sgt. Michael Arrington of the Homicide Division said two people, a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life threatening.

He said the shooting occurred after the private party ended, near the entrance, following an argument. Police said about 40 people were there, and they pleaded with witnesses to step up and provide information.

“The only thing that we can do is hope that y’all reach out and assist us in any way to lead to evidence that will help us apprehend and get charges and an arrest of the person responsible for the death of Takeoff,” Arrington said.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner condemned the violence.

“There are too many young men of color that are killing young men of color,” he said. “And we do need to have that conversation. We do need to deal with it head on.”

Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo, real name Quavious Keyate Marshall, and a cousin, Offset, or Kiari Kendrell Cephus, 30. 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, although Takeoff was not on its multiweek No. 1 “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. It 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.”

Stevenson’s recent career

Back to the 25 year old Stevenson. He’s the former WBC/WBO 130 lb. champ who dominated Oscar Valdez in a one-sided win in April, but had his titles stripped late in September before his unified title defense with Robson Conceicao. That was due to Stevenson missing the weight limit by nearly two pounds.

Still, Stevenson overwhelmed Conceicao with his speed and skill for an easy decision win. He’s 19-0, 9 KO’s,  also a former WBO world champ at featherweight and now, expected to move up to lightweight in the near future.

As of late Tuesday night there had been no comment from Stevenson on social media or otherwise or from his representatives on him being at the Houston night club late Halloween night.