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Eminem and Proof's Lawyer Discuss The Rapper's Death
Proof's closest friend and longtime collaborator Eminem released a statement on Thursday (April 13) expressing his feelings about his comrade's unfortunate passing.
"You don't know where to begin when you lose somebody who's been such a big part of your life for so long," said Em. "Proof and I were brothers. 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. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit Hip-Hop.
"Right now, there's a lot of people focusing on the way he died," he added. "I want to remember the way he lived. Proof was funny, he was smart, he was charming. He inspired everyone around him. He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend."
Proof's longtime attorney David Gorosh also spoke out yesterday disputing claims by the police that the rapper set off the shootout that left him dead and another man in critical condition by pulling his gun out first.
"To indicate that Proof pulled the trigger first is reckless and quite frankly it will be proved to be untrue" Gorosh told the Detroit Free Press.
As previously reported, Proof and Keith Bender got into a heated exchange at Triple C's nightclub early Tuesday morning (April 11) which lead to Proof both pistol-whipping and shooting Bender. Proof was then gunned down by Bender's cousin as he stood over Bender.
A witness statement concurs with the theory that Proof did not initiate the gun battle but says the rapper shot out of self-defense.
"The guy pulled out his gun and then Proof pulled his out and shot -- hitting the guy," the source said. "The guy's cousin who is a bouncer at the club then shot Proof. They grabbed up the gun from the guy Proof shot and fled."
On Wednesday afternoon (April 12), Mario Etheridge, a bouncer at the Triple C's nightclub and Bender's cousin, turned himself in to Detroit Police accompanied by his attorney Randall Upshaw. Upshaw would then tell the press that his client did nothing illegal and that it, "It was Proof that shot the first shot."
Gorosh responded to Upshaw's comments saying, "It's disingenuous to speak to the media to try and suggest that Proof shot first. There are ways to determine what shots were fired and by whom. Until all of the factual evidence has been evaluated, an opinion by the Detroit Police Department is premature."
Etheridge still remains in custody and authorities are continuing to investigate whether he should face charges in the shooting, which Detroit Police said, might have been in self-defense. But sources divulged yesterday that Etheridge surrendered out of self-preservation.
"The guy turned himself in out of fear he was going to get got at by Proof's people," said the source. "Proof frequented the place and there is of course no way the bouncer or anyone else in the club didn't know who he was."
Proof (born Deshaun Holton) was 32 and is survived by his wife and five children. His funeral arrangements are still underway.
Source: sohh.com
"You don't know where to begin when you lose somebody who's been such a big part of your life for so long," said Em. "Proof and I were brothers. 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. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit Hip-Hop.
"Right now, there's a lot of people focusing on the way he died," he added. "I want to remember the way he lived. Proof was funny, he was smart, he was charming. He inspired everyone around him. He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend."
Proof's longtime attorney David Gorosh also spoke out yesterday disputing claims by the police that the rapper set off the shootout that left him dead and another man in critical condition by pulling his gun out first.
"To indicate that Proof pulled the trigger first is reckless and quite frankly it will be proved to be untrue" Gorosh told the Detroit Free Press.
As previously reported, Proof and Keith Bender got into a heated exchange at Triple C's nightclub early Tuesday morning (April 11) which lead to Proof both pistol-whipping and shooting Bender. Proof was then gunned down by Bender's cousin as he stood over Bender.
A witness statement concurs with the theory that Proof did not initiate the gun battle but says the rapper shot out of self-defense.
"The guy pulled out his gun and then Proof pulled his out and shot -- hitting the guy," the source said. "The guy's cousin who is a bouncer at the club then shot Proof. They grabbed up the gun from the guy Proof shot and fled."
On Wednesday afternoon (April 12), Mario Etheridge, a bouncer at the Triple C's nightclub and Bender's cousin, turned himself in to Detroit Police accompanied by his attorney Randall Upshaw. Upshaw would then tell the press that his client did nothing illegal and that it, "It was Proof that shot the first shot."
Gorosh responded to Upshaw's comments saying, "It's disingenuous to speak to the media to try and suggest that Proof shot first. There are ways to determine what shots were fired and by whom. Until all of the factual evidence has been evaluated, an opinion by the Detroit Police Department is premature."
Etheridge still remains in custody and authorities are continuing to investigate whether he should face charges in the shooting, which Detroit Police said, might have been in self-defense. But sources divulged yesterday that Etheridge surrendered out of self-preservation.
"The guy turned himself in out of fear he was going to get got at by Proof's people," said the source. "Proof frequented the place and there is of course no way the bouncer or anyone else in the club didn't know who he was."
Proof (born Deshaun Holton) was 32 and is survived by his wife and five children. His funeral arrangements are still underway.
Source: sohh.com