Proof of D-12 shot to death.

Proof, a member of the Eminem-fronted Detroit-based hip-hop sextet D12, was killed early Tuesday morning outside a Detroit nightclub in a shooting that left another man in critical condition.


According to NBC News affiliate WDIV, Proof (real
name: DeShaun Holton) suffered a gunshot wound to the head at the CCC Club on East Eight Mile Road, near Gratiot Avenue. By the time police arrived at the scene just after 5 a.m., the club — which was operating illegally, after hours — had been cleared out, but several witnesses have come forward to discuss the incident with investigators. A spokesperson for the Detroit Police Department said only that "an altercation occurred [inside the club], and shots rang out," but would not discuss the shooting further, as the 30-year-old rapper's next of kin have not yet been notified of his murder.

Both victims (the other man's name has not been released) were transported to area hospitals; Proof was rushed to St. John Holy Cross Hospital, while the second victim, who is 35 and also sustained a gunshot to the head, was taken to St. John Hospital, where he's listed as being in critical condition. Proof was pronounced dead on arrival.

Proof, Eminem's longtime friend, appeared in the film "8 Mile" as Lil' Tic; he also served as Eminem's best man when the rapper remarried his wife Kim Mathers in January. Eminem filed for divorce last week.

Police are searching for the suspected gunman; a description has not been made available. Detectives have asked that anyone with any information on the shooting come forward.

R.I.P. best in D-12 after eminem imo.

Too bad no one shot eminem.

Could you please go no - flame removed or something instead of disrespecting a DEAD man.

Originally Posted by Publius Scipio

Could you please go no - flame removed or something instead of disrespecting a DEAD man.

No thank you.

Originally Posted by Publius Scipio

Could you please go no - flame removed or something instead of disrespecting a DEAD man.

Errr, no. Calm down!
It'd edit that comment out soon or you shall be reported!

Which one is he? The dead one....

Its always a shame to see a musican die, especially when it looks to me like it was over some silly reason, if it happened in a club. Of course I bet I can tell you what the next movie Eminem makes is about, or atleast his next song.

A source that requested anonymity told AllHipHop.com that Proof was in the club after-hours when a heated verbal argument between Proof and a bouncer allegedly broke out and escalated.

Proof was shot and killed around 4:30 am on April 11 and the bouncer was seriously wounded, both with gunshots to the head.

Police are still releasing details in the shooting and have identified the second man as 35-year-old Keith Bender. Bender is alive, but is still in critical condition.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that the two men may have pulled guns on each other during the melee, or that a third bouncer had possibly shot Proof as a result of the gunplay.

Police are still trying to piece together details of the shooting but have stated they believe two guns were used in the shooting.

Officers have frequently been called to the club, taking 18 incident reports since 1996.

The club was raided in December of 2005 for selling alcohol to minors and Proof's murder was the third time a shooting had occurred at or near the club.

The police questioned one witness in the case and seek to speak to others to find suspects. The club did not have a video surveillance system police, officers revealed.

And i don't think that i have anything to apologize for, the man had a wife and five kids, and you make JOKES about his death?!

He wasn't the best, IMO, but he was one of em. Hub'ite, if you haven't got anything good to say about a dead man, don't say it.

I didn't say anything about the dead guy. All I said was too bad no one shot eminem too.

Why would you wish death upon someone who has just lost his best friend?

Originally Posted by Publius Scipio

Why would you wish death upon someone who has just lost his best friend?

It was a joke. Anyways its one less wannabe gangster rapper down. From David's post he wasn't innocent. You get whats coming.

Originally Posted by Hub'ite

It was a joke. Anyways its one less wannabe gangster rapper down. From David's post he wasn't innocent. You get whats coming.

He came to the club to party, not to fight, bought everyone champange etc. Now you weren't there and don't know what happend. And how can you say something like that about a human, two people are dead, what if I shot you and said that one less redneck in the world. And no, the south isn't going to rise.

I read this on another site...coincidence he was playing the dead guy in Eminem's 'Like Toy Soldiers'....

RIP (even though I'm not much of a D12 fan)

Originally Posted by Hub'ite

It was a joke. Anyways its one less wannabe gangster rapper down.

Dude, you're a friggin' racist.

What goes through a person's mind that allows themselves to end up in a situation like that?

An altercation inside a Detroit nightclub led to the death of D-12 rapper Proof after an argument allegedly turned into a gunfight, leaving a bouncer wounded, according to sources.

A source that requested anonymity said that Proof was in the club after-hours when a heated verbal argument between Proof and a bouncer allegedly broke out and escalated.

Proof was shot and killed around 4:30 am on April 11 and the bouncer was seriously wounded, both with gunshots to the head.

"Proof knocked dude down and stood over him with gun in hand," a source close to Proof said. "Proof shot first. The bouncer on the ground didn't shoot Proof another bouncer did. Proof was shot 4 times. Twice in the head and twice in the chest/stomach area."

Police have identified the second man as 35-year-old Keith Bender.

Bender is alive, but is still in critical condition.

"Dude [Bender] is on life support and not expected to live at all," the source continued.

Investigators are still trying to piece together details of the shooting but have stated they believe two guns were used in the shooting.

According to sources, Proof was licensed to carry his weapon.

Officers have frequently been called to the club, taking 18 incident reports since 1996.

The club was raided in December of 2005 for selling alcohol to minors and Proof's murder was the third time a shooting had occurred at or near the club.

"All this ****** is senseless and real f**ed up. Proof was a longtime friend who wouldn't stay the ****** out the hood. To many jealous people in the hood mad cause you made it.

"8 Mile [road] near Hayes on Detroit's Eastside at 4 am in the morning? That Triple C spot always has drama up there. Why was he there?" the source continued.

The police questioned one witness in the case and seek to speak to others to find suspects.

The club did not have a video surveillance system police, officers revealed.

Proof served as Eminem's best man in the rapper's short-lived wedding to Kim Mathers.

The rapper, whose real name is Deshaun Holtoon, leaves behind five children.

There are a little bit more details in that account.

That Toy Soldiers video is really creepy now... foreshadowing anyone?

"Proof knocked dude down and stood over him with gun in hand," a source close to Proof said. "Proof shot first. The bouncer on the ground didn't shoot Proof another bouncer did. Proof was shot 4 times. Twice in the head and twice in the chest/stomach area."

Sounds like a party to me. And yet again, my sig is a joke.

That does not mean ****, what if proof was standing over the guard and then the other one pulled his gun, proof panicked shot the man lying on the floor and got shot four times. There is a million ways it could've happend.

One of the Dee-jays from 7 Deadly Techniques called in to the radio station (didn't get his name cause I'm busy right now) and said he was chillin' wit' Proof at the Triple C after hour club this morning. He said when Proof got there, he was relaxed and bought drinks for everybody. He said Proof even bought him a bottle of champagne. And they was eatin' and kickin' it reminiscing about back in the days. Proof was talking to him about and new record label deal he just inked wit' Warner Bros. and he was happy about the way his career was going. Then his mans came over to the dude from Deadly Techniques and said, "Let's go man. It's time for us roll out." He was like, "Nah man we havin' a good time." His mans was like, "Nah man, we been hangin' out enough. It's time to go." He said he took his boys advice and gave Proof dap and rolled out. This was about 2:30 a.m. He said that was the last time he saw Proof.

I dont like D-12 too much but Proof was definetly one of the best in that group. People think eminem, formed D-12 but it was actually Proof, they tried to style the group unsuccesfully after the Wu-Tang Clan...Proof was supposed to be like RZA, and Eminem was the GZA...And Bizarre was Cappadona...heh, no joking...

But Proof had skills for sure, its a shame that there still so much violence in hip hop, but I dont like it when people blame a music genre for street violence. It probably has less to do with beef on wax and more to do with money, or image problems. Of course, the police probably wont even bother looking for Proofs killers. Damn, it seems like just a few weeks ago Busta Rhymes was shot at, and his bodyguard gave his life to protect him...now this crap happens? Who's next to die?