D12 Rapper Proof Shot and Killed in Night Club

Detroit rapper Proof, member of the rap group D12, and longtime ally of Eminem, was shot and killed in the CCC nightclub early this morning. The CCC nightclub is the Detroit road, Eight Mile Road, which Eminem brought to notoriety in his semi-autobiographical movie 8 Mile.

Proof, whose real name is DeShaun Holton, and another man were both shot at the club near Gratiot Avenue. Proof was shot in the head, while the other man had been shot in the head as well, and is in critical condition at St. John Hospital, while Proof was pronounced dead on arrival upon his arrival at St John Conner Creek Hospital, an outpatient facility. The name of the other victim has not been released. Wende Berry, a spokesperson for St. John Health System, also confirmed that Holton was dead on arrival, from a gunshot wound. Berry could not confirm if Holton was driven by ambulance to the facility, or if someone had driven him there.

According to MTV.Com, "By the time police arrived 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."

Proof's death was also confirmed by the publicist for D12's label, Interscope Records. Publicist Dennis Dennehy's statement was quoted on USA Today, which read "Memorial service arrangements are still being made, and his friends and family would appreciate privacy during this difficult time." Dennehy also said "His friends and family would appreciate privacy during this difficult time." While Detroit Police would not confirm that it was DeShaun Holton that was killed, they would confirm that two people had been shot in the head, one fatally.

Little is known about the shooting. A Detroit Police spokesperson said that an argument in the CCC nightclub escalated into gunshots. Details would be withheld until Proof's next of kin could be notified. While police say that they are asking for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, they are not releasing a description.

Proof had been a very successful rapper, even before D12 made it into the spotlight. DeShaun Holton won The Source's 1999 "Unsigned Hype" competition, and was also a member of the St. Charles Dance Group for the Blind. In 2001, his D12 group released their first CD, Devil's Night. Along with frontman Eminem, D12 would have one hugely popular hit, "Purple Pills". D12 would release another album, D12 World in 2004. D12, including mainstay member Eminem, were supposed to head back to the studio again later this month to produce a new album. In August 2005, Proof would release a solo project album entitled Searching for Jerry Garcia.

DeShaun Holton (Proof) and Marshall Mathers (Eminem) had been close friends for a long time. DeShaun was the best man at Eminem's second wedding to Kim Mathers, though Eminem has now filed for divorce (See Eminem to Divorce Kim Mathers Again). Proof had also been Eminem's 'hypeman' for some time.

Proof also had a role in Eminem's movie 8 Mile as Lil' Tic. Lil' Tic is the fresstyle rapper that B. Rabbit (Eminem) loses to in the opening freestyle battle. Proof was the only actor who actually freestyled his part on the spot.

Proof's murder comes months after fellow D12 rapper Obie Trice was shot at and wounded on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit. That incident occurred on New Year's Eve. Also, somewhat ironically, Proof played the part of a murder victim in Eminem's music video for the song "Like Toy Soldiers". The music video featured Eminem and other members of D12 attending his funeral.

E Online quoted an interview that Proof did with the hip-hop website, SOHH.com. In it, Proof spoke about trying to distance himself from violence. "I feel that when you're put in a position of power to reach back to people who are in the streets still trying to make it that you try to make sure that people aren't beefing. We're trying to have peace in the streets."

The last question of the interview was to ask how Proof wanted to be remembered when it was all said and done, to which he replied "I'd want them to say that I'm a true artist. That as far as being who I am and expressing what it is that makes up me. That I did it the best and that I stay trued to the hip-hop roots. If I were to take my bow--which I never hope to do, I think I can rap forever--then I'd want people to understand that I did this for the love."

DeShaun Holton was 30 years old.

[Additional Sources: MTV.Com, USA Today, E Online]