Rapper Proof Slain in Detroit Nightclub

[kempy]

Rapper Proof Slain in Detroit Nightclub

04/11/2006 1:00 PM, AP
Associated Press

By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 9 minutes ago Proof, a member of rap group D12 and a close friend of Eminem, was shot to death early Tuesday at a nightclub along Eight Mile Road, a publicist said.


The death of Proof — whose real name is Deshaun Holton — was confirmed by Dennis Dennehy, the publicist for D12's label, Interscope Records.


"Memorial service arrangements are still being made, and his friends and family would appreciate privacy during this difficult time," Dennehy said in a statement.


Family members gathered at a home on Detroit's northwest side. The residential street in front of the two-story home was lined with vehicles.


Proof was the best man at Eminem's wedding in January and often appeared alongside the superstar rapper at concerts and public appearances. He also appeared in the film "8 Mile."


D12, which includes Eminem, has been around since the mid-1990s, when members of the rap group met at Detroit's Hip-Hop Shop, a clothing store by day and a hip-hop club by night.


Detroit police wouldn't confirm that Proof was killed, but said two people were shot in the head — one fatally — early Tuesday at a nightclub on Eight Mile.


An argument at the CCC nightclub escalated into gunshots, Detroit police spokesman James Tate said.


Wende Berry, a spokeswoman for St. John Health System, said Holton was dead on arrival at St. John Conner Creek, an outpatient treatment facility. Berry confirmed that he had a gunshot wound.


Another member of Eminem's inner circle — rapper Obie Trice — was shot while driving on a Detroit-area highway in December.


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Associated Press Writer David Runk contributed to this report.


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On the Net:


www.d12online.com/

music.yahoo.com/read/news/31543106

[david g.]

Eminem Pays Tribute to Proof By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writer
56 minutes ago



DETROIT - Eminem has praised rapper Proof, who was shot dead earlier this week, for his "guidance and encouragement," calling him "my best friend," in a posting on his Web site.

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Proof, whose real name is Deshaun Holton, was killed early Tuesday in a shooting at the CCC, a nightclub in a strip of businesses along Eight Mile, the road made famous in the 2002 film starring Eminem.

The 32-year-old rapper, a member of D12, was the best man in Eminem's January wedding. Seldom was Eminem seen in public without Proof.

"He pushed me to become who I am. Without Proof's guidance and encouragement there would have been a Marshall Mathers, but probably not an Eminem and certainly never a Slim Shady," the statement by the 33-year-old rap superstar said. "He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend."

Police have said that Proof fired the first bullet inside the nightclub, touching off a shootout that ended his life.

The bullet hit Keith Bender, 35, in the head, critically injuring him, police said. Bender remained in critical condition Thursday at an area hospital, his mother, Leona Bender, said.

Proof's family believes a police investigation will clear his name, Proof's lawyer, David J. Gorosh, told The Detroit News. "Our position is the facts of this case will speak for themselves," he said.

Detroit police spokesman James Tate said 15 to 25 people were in the club at the time of the shooting, and detectives were still trying to locate some of them.

Most of the witnesses told investigators that a fight broke out between Bender and Proof, and that Proof struck Bender with a handgun before shooting him once in the head, Tate said.

Detectives were looking into whether the fight was over a pool game, but they have not settled on a single theory, Tate said. Most of the witnesses agree on the cause of the fight, Tate said Thursday, but he would not reveal what they said.

A suspect in Proof's death remained in police custody as investigators forwarded their reports to the county prosecutor.

Mario Etheridge, 28, surrendered to police about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and can be held without charges for 48 hours, Tate said.

Etheridge's lawyer, Randall P. Upshaw, has told reporters that the shooting was in self-defense.

"They shouldn't charge him. I have heard no one say that Mario did anything wrong," Upshaw said Friday.

Upshaw said Etheridge was Bender's cousin and had worked as a bouncer at the club, but no longer was employed there.

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On the Net:

www.eminem.com/

[david rocks]

OMG IM HILLUCINATING PROOF GUYS EVERYWHERE........THATS SCARY!!! I MISS THE DUDE!!