Prosecutor Says Bouncer’s Warning Shot Prompted Proof to Pull Gun

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  35 Comments

proof.jpgSlain Detroit rapper Proof only pulled out his weapon after his killer fired off a warning shot in Detroit’s CCC club on the night of his murder, a prosecutor in the trial of Mario Etheridge alleged today (September 18) in court. Etheridge, who fired the fatal shots that killed Proof, is currently on trial for a charge of discharging a firearm in a building and possession of a concealed weapon. According to the Detroit Free Press, assistant prosecutor Elizabeth Walker stated that when Etheridge fired the warning shot, “that was the first display, the first use, the first time anyone knew about a weapon.” It was at that point, according to the prosecution, that Proof drew his weapon and fired at Keith Bender, who was Etheridge’s cousin. Bender, who was celebrating news of an improved heart condition, also died several days later from his wounds. In May, the District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute Etheridge for Proof’s murder, saying he acted in self-defense when he shot the rapper. Additionally, Andre Boyd, a witness to the events in the club that night, testified this morning that he saw Proof get into two separate scuffles with another club-goer before he started fighting with Bender. Etheridge’s trial is expected to last two days.

  • ChinCheck

    RIP BIG PROOF
    Another talent lost over non-sense!!!

  • http://myspace.com/dojaclick doja clik nor cal

    damn another dope rapper gone rip proof…. looking for some dope undaground go to myspace.com/dojaclick if u think the rap game needs something like pac again .. here it izz!

    watch the videos on youtube.com search dojaclik dont cheat ya self if u love hip hop ull love this group!

  • Arcane

    r.i.p

  • Arcane

    r.i.p

  • RAMMY

    R.I.P PROOF

  • http://www.myspace.com/snoopy_hp Yung Sav a.k.a Snoopy

    Man R.I.P. Proof and fuck his killer he’s a bitch rest in pest u r missed

  • http://myspace.com/rebeldr frikas

    some dumb shit and we loose another rapper that had a big future!
    r.i.p proof!!

  • jojochicago

    Now the truth is starting to comr out. as more come to light, Proof will be vindicated for his actions on the night of his death. again, God bless his family and his soul.

  • J

    i’m bumpin “kurt kobain” in his memory as i write this, r.i.p proof

  • jordan-philly

    “stop playin games…with your heart. Isn’t it a shame; the way you treat it? Grow up and be a man!”

    -ANTHONY DAVID

  • Trueog

    i saw proof that day at triple c, man dis nigga was acting all fucked up, and wanna get shot. the dat’s what happened he dun got shot up cuz he wuz messin wit to many peeples in there. Week afta week this nigga be startin shit like he muthaphuckin eminem, or king of england walk in the muthafucka. Tis what happens when people git a lil money and start thinkin they hot shit…they die.

  • JR

    r.i.p.

  • Doc Flav

    No, RIP K. Bender, You fought a hard struggle to live, only to be shot by a drunk dude wildin out. I Pray for Proof soul, because surely it must be in torment. A warning shot caused dude to aim at that mans head and kill him, doesnt make sense, the prosecutor just want Strickland To do time.

  • Ruthless

    R.I.P

  • Makavelli

    I JUST WISH THEY WOULD STOP MAKING PROOF A HERO, INSTEAD OF THE MURDERER HE IS. LIKE DOC FLAV SAID A WARNING SHOT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED PROOF TO SHOT THE MAN IN THE HEAD. PROOF WASN’T THE ONLY ONE TO DIE, I GUESS SINCE HE WASN’T SOME HOW FAMOUS HE DOESN’T DESERVE THE SAME. RIP BENDER, RIP BENDER, RIP BENDER!!!!!!!! YOUR LIFE WAS PRECIOUS ALSO!!!!!!!!!

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  • Diggy Doc (aka Lil Louch)

    Damn, Shouldve been Fiddy who took those slugs. I wouldve celebrated! No bullshit tho R.I.P to both these brothas. 50 STILL SHUDVE BEEN THERE TO TAKE A COUPLE BULLETS. THIS TIME IN THE MOUTH.

  • Jaymatic

    I AIN’T HATIN’, BUT WHY U GONNA BUST GAT WHILE THE MUTHAFUCKIN’ BOUNCER DIDN’T EVEN BUST ON UR ASS? FOR ME THINK, IT WAS PROOF’S FAULT.
    R.I.P. THO, BIG PROOF.

  • koofiesmacker

    I guess the truth is starting to come out, …But not that I’m glorifing what went down that night, But Proof went out like a G, so many of your favorite rappers now are praising getting shot or getting shot at, never did we ever here them shoot back. BIG PROOF def. lived his lyrics, if he had survived this incident he would have been locked up, facing possibly life or the Chair. But regardless, RIP Proof & RIP Bender,…
    I once lost my nrother 2 the streets, so that fuck saying he wished it was 50, he just probably I PS2 or Xbox fan that plays GTA way to much to under stand what actually getting murked means

  • peaceriverwarrior(gunitsoldier)

    proof was the realest street nigger…..before the money…..after the money. he kept it hood, he lived the streets. he dun died for them. you think all these southern rappers who have hit it big r still on the same corners,alleys,etc. kicking wiht the same homies they grew up with. fuck no they aint. proof has had money for like 10 years and still repped the streets harder than any rapper out there. he went out like a true og. R.I.P. BIG PROOF……U WONT BE FORGOTTEN……DETROIT WHAT!!

  • MiCro (St.Paul MN)

    BIG PROOF FOREVER AND REST IN PEACE…….. AND FUCK ALL YOU DUDES TALKING SHIT ABOUT PROOF….

  • hiroshi

    REST IN PEACE…NIGGAR!!!!

  • H-Man

    Proof 4ever

  • http://freewebs.com/dirtygoldentertainment Krusafix

    You know what…. Fuck prosecuting Etheridge, i think they should drag his ass back to the club and execute his ass live on a fucking pool table… pay backs a bitch…

    But im sure he’s gon get it in jail

    -Krusaifx

  • shade45

    DIGGYDOC DICK RIDIN D’z NUTS AKA LIL BITCH..FUCK YOU,and your crew and the g-younot.BIGPROOF4EVER.COM.Go get a shirt for his kids.Love you proof

  • LAZY-J

    What can I say people are murdered violently every day but no one will care if no one knows your name R.I.P.

  • LAZY-J

    What can I say people are murdered violently every day but no one will care if no one knows your name R.I.P.

  • thechi2000

    Proof ain’t innocent, thats what happens to niggas that try to be gangsta that ain’t… Dude was protecting his family, i would have shot him to… But r.i.p. to the niggas proof nobody deserves to die.

  • HIP HOP FAN

    NIGGA DIED RIP … WE ALL GOTTA DIE SOME DAY.

  • http://www.trojanhorse2244hotmail.com TIGER T

    ACTS 2-22

  • Rumsteady

    nigger ….niggar …..WHo da fuk wrote dat white fuckheads…Shit it’s nigga dumbasses….White pieces of shit….

  • http://www.myspace.com/rickd Rick_D_07

    R.I.P.

  • AMERICAN MC

    R.I.P PROOF U WILL NEVA BE 4GOTTEN MAN, DIDNT DERSERVE TO DIE MAN :’( YOU WAS TOP

  • solo130

    proof was a gabage emcee on his songs but in a battle he was a beastr.i.p. but damn he made his time come quick in one night damn was the ni gga under the influence??!?!?!?

  • ash

    proof was a gee! it just goes to show dont fuck with d12 or shit can happenin… respect to d12 for there music and lyrics… my respects dont go out to g-unit (fuck 50 cent) young buck why didnt you get the fck up and leave with the game… 50 aint doing shit except pullin your ass into his beoff… R.I.P PROOF