Chicago and the hip-hop community are reeling after new developments surrounding the death of THF Bayzoo, a rapper long associated with the drill scene and Only The Family (OTF) collective led by Lil Durk. The incident began one afternoon in October 2025, when Bayzoo, real name Devonshe Collier, 35, was standing in a parking lot in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood when he was shot multiple times by two unknown assailants approaching from an unmarked vehicle. The attack occurred around 3 p.m., and a video purportedly showing the shooters emerged online, though it has not been officially verified.

Bayzoo was immediately rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition but ultimately died from his injuries. Two companions who were with him — reportedly bodyguards — were wounded but are reported to be in stable condition. The Chicago Police Department confirmed Bayzoo’s death as a homicide, and no suspects have been arrested to date.

This shooting was not just another street-level act of violence. Bayzoo was a well-known figure in Chicago’s rap scene: he was closely tied to drill music and recognized for tracks like Beat Dat Body, as well as collaborations with OTF artists. Previously, he had faced several firearms-related charges but was either cleared or acquitted, including a 2009 murder case in which he was later acquitted by a jury in 2017.

In the hours and days following Bayzoo’s death, tributes from the hip-hop community began pouring in. Rapper 21 Savage was among the first to share images and a remembrance on Instagram Story, noting that he and Bayzoo had spoken regularly, and Bayzoo had even sent birthday wishes to Savage just days before the shooting. These posts shocked many fans, revealing a closer connection than previously known.

Additionally, social media has been rife with speculation about gang involvement, with numerous unverified accounts naming a member of the Black Disciples — a gang historically tied to organized violence in Chicago — as the perpetrator. Police have not confirmed these claims, and most of the online naming comes from unofficial sources.

Bayzoo’s death marks another tragic chapter in the cycle of violence affecting Chicago’s rap community, where numerous artists and their associates have lost their lives in recent years. With many questions still unanswered — from motives to the identities of the actual shooters — the investigation continues, and both fans and fellow artists are left mourning the loss of a familiar and vibrant figure.