Proof’s Shooter Cleared on Murder Charges

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  60 Comments

82proof.jpgA Detroit prosecutor has ruled that Mario Etheridge, the man being held in connection with the killing of D12 member Proof, acted lawfully when he shot and killed the rapper at the CCC nightclub in April. According to the Associated Press, prosecutor Kym Worthy announced at a press conference yesterday that evidence collected in the case clearly proves that Etheridge was acting in defense of another person. The incident is said to have begun with a disagreement over a game of pool that quickly escalated when Proof began arguing with Etheridge’s cousin, Keith Bender. Proof then allegedly pulled out a gun, pistol whipped the man and shot him in the face. Etheridge is said to have fired two warning shots into the ceiling before firing on Proof himself in an attempt to defend his cousin. The rapper’s blood alcohol level law at the time of his death was reported as being four times the legal level in Michigan. Etheridge will remain incarcerated and will face charges for carrying a concealed weapon, possession and discharging a firearm in a building. If convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison.

  • http://www.anannzi.co.za PHONY YAYO

    UKNW WAT..IM NOT MAD AT DAT..SUMTYMS RAPPERS FUCK UP ALOT JUS TO PROVE HOW GANGSTA DEY R…
    RIP PROOF BUT

    GGGGGGGG-UNOT

  • Big Kev

    It seems sad to say but Proof went after it and it costs his life
    RIP…

  • Mick

    I agree sounds like Proof was in the wrong, but I still love his music

    R.I.P.

  • RAMMY

    yeah i’d say Proof fucked up big time. But who doesn’t make mistakes in this life. But fuck it i still love his music. and im not gonna hate on the guy who shot proof either anybody would of done the same for a family member. But anyway violence needs to stop and we miss you man.
    R.I.P Proof

  • Tyson

    Last night I read the july ’06 XXL, & page 93 is where the unnamed witness stated what happened. I take that person’s word over the national media & etheridge any day. I knew there was more 2 it than what we all initally heard. That dude might as well kill himself or do something 2 get a life sentence because he’s in deep shit. Big cover up goin’ on because Mr. Bender & Proof knew each other & with all the evidence tampered with due 2 a delay in callin’ the pigs [probably hours], the truth will never come to light besides what was stated on pg. 93. R.I.P. Proof, only god can judge U

  • B-boy

    Yo man that’s really out cold man but Ibelief he was acting in defense of his cousin which at the time was unarmed. So I believed he wasn’t supposed to go to jail over that

    R.I.P. Proof

  • G of the 7

    Man that story is bullshit! it dont make no kind of since anybody that know a lil bout anything know that!Ok u heated bout a pool game if u pull a gun on a dude who didn’t have one that mean i done treated u[
    "fuck nigga i'll kill yo ass" or something]. THen ok u pistal whipping the dude right. his cousin pull out and let off two warning shot.If u got a gun and someone behind u let off u not gone keep doing what u doing let alone go further and shot someone in the head!U gone turn and fire wherever the warning came from cause u dont know if he shotting in the air or not!!!!Then they say the dude fired at proof like 2 times before he hit him???? THat is the biggest bunch of bullshit in the world!!!and all this time Proof aint turned to him at all?? 2. about the dude if someone really pull a gun on ur fam and u got a gun u gone buss right then u aint gone do warning shots and that crap! So u saying u shot yo gun like 4 times behind a nigga with a gun and he aint do nothing but let u shot him??????!

  • ReDiCuLouS

    Yo all I’m sayin’ is that that Etheridge nigga betta be packin’ heat all the time…cuz if fam see his ass…hes gettin clapped on. What a load of bullshit!!! He better at least serve 9 years…then we’ll know hes gonna take it in the ass, strait OZ stylee!!! Big Proof would have wanted it that way…~Holla~

  • Masterplan

    I don’t really care what the hell happened, i mean i do care but i’d much rather have proof alive still.
    RIP

  • http://gunit.com G-UNIT

    i hate people that hate gunit man im serious they just mad at them cause they got no girl money and cars like g unit!!!!!

    G G G G G G G UNIT!!!
    SHADY AFTERMATH!!!!!!!!!!

    SKAMER IRC

  • d-bones

    yo how you going to let that fagget off on tha charges man damn judge must not like rap or something damn haters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • juster

    Yeah whata fu** is al about the killing ??? I hop that as* ho** will get in the prison, what he deserws !! Bit** destroyed D12

  • stoneyisland

    So this so called nigga pistol whips a dude instead of knuckling up like a real man, he’s four times the alkie level and ends us getting capped out. Sounds about right, if Proof was a real man and instead of pulling out heat like a scared bitch, maybe he’d still be alive. What a tragedy, senseless. Proof wherever u are my brother, it didnt have to end like this.

  • mizpris

    that shits fuked up i still cant believe they shot proof.

  • Rice

    dats bullshit

  • Jezuz Cryz

    Of course it was gonna be self-defense. Proof pulled first and paid the cost for not knowing G tactiques. Sorry but face the facts…

  • Phished

    “if Proof was a real man and instead of pulling out heat like a scared bitch, maybe he’d still be alive.”

    probibly not.. I”m sure Mario is the kind of person that would’ve pulled HIS heat wether or not Proof had pull

  • SPICKSTER

    Fuck that faggot etheridge, he should be in jail right now getting fucked up the ass, Proof was a real nigga and he had some balls so he did what he had to, and now u motherfuckers can’t say d12 is fake when they are standin up for themselevs like that. SHADY/AFTERMATH/G-UNIT 4 EVA r.i.p proof

  • wettw

    proof was an idiot.
    just because you like his music doesnt mean he wasnt one…

    if he was some bum on the street who peddled dope to school kids, you wouldnt give this a second thought.

    he got exactly what he deserved.

  • DET_REL

    NOBODY ON HERE WAS THERE SO NOBODY SHOULD BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY SEE OR READ IN THE NEWS IF U FROM THE STREET U KNOW ITS MORE 2 THAT STORY THEN WHATS BEING SAID ALL 3 OF THEM NIGGAS HAD GUNS AND THEY PICKED UP BENDER GUNS AFTER HE WAS KILLED BUT THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER RAPPER FROM THE STREET SO DO U THINK THEY R GOING 2 REALLY INVESTIGATE RIP PROOF THE D MISS U

  • ripsta

    my boy fucked up. but we still miss ya proof

  • yourworstnightmare

    warning shots if he fired warning shots on me or anyone i know who would have a gun that muther fucker would be the one dead. he fired 2 into the celling thats bullshit you wouldt shot this dudes cousin if he’s leten off shots behind you

    R.I.P. PROOF

  • skateboard

    G-G-G-G U NOT.. thats fucked up i think they should let that fucker rot in jail for the rest of his life

    (shady aftermath) cool G-Unit…GAAY

  • Galil ( Never forget 2pac)

    Yo I gotta say R.I.P. Big Proof and 2 your family I feel wit you. No matter who shot who, it´s not gonna change that their were 2 guys who died in this fatal tragedy.We gotta ask ourselves, when do we stop the violent and will it ever happen. Like B.I.G. said I would NEVER wish death on nobody!’cause there ain’t no comin back from death.. P.S. Proof say hello from me to Pac,B.I.G. & other fallen souljahs in Thugz Mansion!

  • Galil ( Never forget 2pac)

    Yo I gotta say R.I.P. Big Proof and 2 your family I feel wit you. No matter who shot who, it´s not gonna change that there were 2 guys who died in this fatal tragedy.We gotta ask ourselves, when do we stop the violent and will it ever happen. Like B.I.G. said I would NEVER wish death on nobody!’cause there ain’t no comin back from death.. P.S. Proof say hello from me to Pac,B.I.G. & other fallen souljahs in Thugz Mansion!

  • jojochicago

    i still don’t believe this account of the actual events. until final forensics is revealed, fuk all these prilimanary results. for judge to rule without said proof or details is fukin ridiculous!

  • D.C. BABY

    thats some big bullshit talkin about a man who shot some fuckin warning shots.proof fucked up no doubt but so did etheridge so since proof already paid the price etheridge should get fucked up in jail for his entire life.
    R.I.P big PROOF you alwayz da man and you will always be remembered

  • DPDLiars

    Say goodbye Stony! Say goodbye Ethridge! Proof was MURDERED and like the rest of them ignorent bitches you believe the coverup. If U from the D you know that aint Proof. Lies Lies Lies coming from a pack of Murderers…You gonna have a lot a friends in the PEN Mario!!!!!RIP Proof

  • Ian

    I just got the new issue of xxl and I want to believe that witness, but you never know. Watch them pull some bullshit in the case and play some of Proof’s records in court. I personally think there’s a cover up going on. How many more talented rappers are we going to lose over bullshit?

  • CLASS CLOWN

    WHAT WE TALKIN ABOUT IN HERE 8 MILE PART 2..? WAS THAT IN THEATERS..? IMA TAKE MY GRANDMOMZ

  • http://c-losV,W c-los V,W

    ^^^^^^^
    ^^^^^^^
    fool shut the fuck up and have respect

  • http://xxlmag.com E-man (South c)

    Im giving Eminem a green light to go and bomb that Maafucker to ashez

  • real niggas

    Real niggas start sumfin. TRUE???

  • reggie reg

    all this gun carrying is crazy. in my young days we fight with a hands and if you kick my ass or i kick your ass than that’s that. but now cats or killing each other over nothing think about it a pool game. lets think brother it’s time to stop the bullshit.

  • http://damurydas.com West5ide Piru

    D12 LOVE fuka Etheridge and fuka Bender fuk those fooz a kazillion phafillion manillion zabillion times fooz best watch they azz’s witness protection program fo they ass’s runyon ave mafukaz kant fuk wit BIG PROOF rip homie n fuk d twizzy hataz katch a klean bullet fukaz D12 LOVE

  • http://www.myspace.com/eardrummahzwest OnPoint of EarDrummahz Ent.

    Damn

    OnPoint signing out!
    http://www.EarDrummahz.com

  • http://www.myspace.com/eardrummahzwest OnPoint of EarDrummahz Ent.

    Damn. What can you really say about that?

    OnPoint signing out!
    http://www.EarDrummahz.com

  • http://www.xxlmag.com Dipesh

    look i h8 g-unit but dats g-unit an not coz they got cars, girl, or money coz 50 is fucking gimmick 4 real, em keep ya head up d12 keep ya head up, no matta what shit he was into proof was a humen being fuk beef.

    r.i.p. proof

  • Sililoque

    succesful rapper dies over a game of pool…. pretty damn sad
    that shit aint gangsta.

  • WaWIIII

    Fuck proof. damn idiot thats what u get for bein a fuckin retard. if proof shot my cousin, i’d shoot his ass too. proof wasn’t even a good rapper.

  • sad but true

    yo, you live by the gun, you die by the gun. thats the dynamics of “gangsta”. no bodys invinsable, and when you play with fire, you gunna get burned. Proof went out like the G, and when god calls, you gotta go home. proof did have one of the smoothist voices in the game though. pore out some liqour for ya boy. RIP PROOF

  • sad but true

    KNOWIN DAMN WELL THESE MOTHA FUCKAS TALKIN SHIT ABOUT PROOF ARE SOME MARK ASS BITCHES HIDING BEHIND THERE KEY BOARDS. KEEP GANGBANGIN ON “MYSPACE” YA FUCKING HERMITS. GO TALK THAT SHIT TO ANYONE IN THE D. NO, IN FACT, GO RUN YOUR PUSSY LIPS TO ANY GANGSTER IN ANY TOWN. I BET EVEN A 12 YEAR OLD WIGGA IN BAKERSFIELD WOULD SERVE YOUR BITCH ASS PUNKS

  • detroitbaby

    proof ain’t kill nobody you fuckin’ quacks. my brother was working at ccc when it happened, and believe me, the way this story is being broadcast is way off and beyond exaggerated. There’s more to this story then the media is saying. proof was murdered in cold blood and i know this for a fact. if you wanna know what really happened then email me at merlinlover19@yahoo.com

  • the uplifted

    IGNORANT – all of you. Regardless of your opinions, learn to speak and spell, you all make our people seem like illiterate fools. Most of you are probably white kids from the suburbs trying to play the ‘gangsta’-roll anyhow.

  • GQ

    the proof is in the pudding

  • conway

    i think thats fucked up he did not have to shoot him t kill him fuck with yall say proof was my nigga

  • Ashley

    man it is fucked up that proof had to die but damn ya get over it now, its old news, i mean i was sad when i found out that he died but just dont think about it!!!

  • alyxnyc

    You people defending Proof are ignant. Proof was a fool who got what he deserved.

  • http://Roadee2009AOL.com 50 Cent

    Yo THAT DUDE WHO KILLED 50 LUCKY I DONT LIVE IN DETROIT OR I’LL CATCH EM AND GIVE HIM THA HARD GOODBYE! REST IN PEACE DESHAUN”PROOF”HOLTON

  • http://Roadee2009AOL.com 50 Cent

    O YEA ALYXNYC U GONNA GET BLASTED UP 4 WAT U JUS SED 2

  • t money

    The fucked up shit in this situation is not the guy gettin out of it. But Proof not being able to wake up the next morning wit a hangover and his boys tellin him he was on one that night. One day were here then we gone son thats real talk..

    R.I.P Big Proof

    GO TO BIG PROOF.COM AND COP A SHIRT OR A POSTER AND SHOW SOME LOVE TO NOT JUS A RAPPER BUT A YOUNG BROTHA. PRCEEDS GOTO HIS FAM.

  • FuckIsrael

    r.i.P PROOF

  • FuckIsrael

    O YEA
    RIP EVERY LEBANESE PERSON THATS DIED IN THE WAR
    RIP TUPAC
    RIP NOTORIOUS BIG

  • Uberheit

    yo RIP Proof

    bad motherfuckker u fucked up bad

  • Weezy

    UBERHEIT SHUT THE FUCK UP MAN ……YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO SLEEP YOU PUSSY ASS BITCH…RIP PROOF

    WEEZY WEE

  • Fuck-A-Popa-Doc

    You have to look at it this way….this shit happens everywhere in the country. It just gets more buzz b/c of who Proof was. But it seems like Proof was bent (“drunk as hell” if u’ll don’t understand the slang) starting arguing and the alcohol took over him and he made a terrible mistake that not only took his life but the life of another human being. Prayers go out to him and his family as well as the other victim and his family but you have to see that Proof was in the wrong. I’m not justifing his death by any means b/c I liked Proof but you have to look at peoples wrong-doing and realize that he might have been the blame for his own fatality.
    R.I.P. Proof

  • 8thstreetdyme

    Well, I really don’t know who or what to believe. I guess only the ones that witnessed what really went on knows what really went down. But like my grandma always say, THERE IS ALWAYS 3 SIDES TO A STORY, YOUR SIDE, HIS SIDE AND THE TRUTH, well one day the truth will come out. So for now R.I.P proof and keith bender, may GOD, bless ur family and everyone that loves you.

  • pull_out_my_gat

    I dont really know what happened but proofs fault or not i hope that bitch etheridge gets fuckin iced. R.I.P Proof…we all miss you.

  • DUI

    “Fuck Israel” you are a douchebag! What the fuck does the death of proof have to do with the war in lebanon. Do you really think he gave a shit about the lebanese people? Where the fuck are you from anyway?

  • http://www.firemillen.com Fire Millen

    I peeed on the Big Proof billboard on I-94. I actually climbed the ladder about 2am, pulled out my (you know what) and wet that sucker up. So next time you drive by, the black and white billboard is gonna have some yellow highlight on it to.

    FIRE MILLEN