Rapper Offset Shot Outside Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Rapper Offset, a former member of the hip-hop trio Migos, was shot outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Monday night and is in stable condition at a hospital, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

The shooting followed a fight at the casino in Hollywood, about 120 miles south of the Treasure Coast, the Seminole Police Department said. Officers said one person sustained injuries in a valet area outside the venue. The injuries were not life-threatening, police said. The Seminole Hard Rock, operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is one of the state's highest-profile entertainment complexes — a destination that regularly draws visitors from Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties for concerts and events.

Police detained two people at the scene. Tione Jayden Merritt, a 24-year-old rapper known as Lil Tjay, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license in connection with the altercation that preceded the shooting, the department said. His attorney, Dawn M. Florio, said Merritt did not possess a gun and was not charged with any weapons-related crimes. He posted bond and was released Tuesday afternoon, Florio said.

The second person detained has not been charged. Investigators were working to identify others involved, police said in a statement.

The shooting struck a nerve for hip-hop fans still mourning Takeoff, Offset's cousin and Migos bandmate, who was fatally shot outside a Houston bowling alley in November 2022. Police said Takeoff was an innocent bystander killed after a disagreement over a dice game.

Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, rose to fame with Migos alongside Takeoff and Quavo. The Atlanta trio reshaped trap music with their rapid-fire triplet flow, producing multiplatinum hits including "Bad and Boujee," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group released four albums before disbanding after Takeoff's death.

As a solo artist, Offset released his third album, "Kiari," in 2025. He was previously married to rapper Cardi B; she filed for divorce in 2024. They have three children.

Takeoff's killing was part of a wave of fatal shootings involving prominent hip-hop artists in recent years, including Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, PnB Rock and Young Dolph. Quavo, the third Migos member, held a summit against gun violence in 2024 in response to his nephew's death.

The Seminole Police Department said the investigation remains active. No additional charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

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