Chicago’s drill music community is mourning the loss of THF Bayzoo, a longtime friend and collaborator of Lil Durk and the late King Von, who was shot and killed in Chicago on Saturday, October 25. He was 39 years old.
According to the Chicago Police Department, the rapper — whose real name was Devonshe Collier — was standing with two other men in a parking lot on the 3100 block of South St. Louis Avenue in the city’s Little Village neighborhood around 3 p.m. when an unknown suspect pulled up and opened fire.
Collier was struck multiple times in the torso and rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The two other men, ages 39 and 42, were also shot but are expected to recover, police said.
Authorities confirmed to multiple local outlets that no arrests have been made and that the investigation is ongoing.
Graphic surveillance footage of the shooting quickly spread across social media over the weekend, though news outlets have chosen not to share the video due to its disturbing content.
While speculation about possible gang retaliation has surfaced online — with some social media users linking the attack to ongoing street conflicts — Chicago police have not confirmed any connection between Collier’s death and gang activity.
THF Bayzoo was respected in Chicago’s drill rap scene, known for his gritty storytelling and authenticity. A member of the THF (Trigger Happy Family) collective, he was closely affiliated with Lil Durk’s Only The Family (OTF) label and appeared on several popular collaborations, including the street anthem “Beat Dat Body” featuring King Von.
After Von’s death in 2020, Bayzoo often spoke about staying united and finding ways to survive amid the drill scene’s dangers.
His death comes at a difficult time for OTF — Lil Durk, 32, remains in federal custody facing murder-for-hire charges in connection to a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles that prosecutors allege targeted rival rapper Quando Rondo. Durk has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.
Following news of Bayzoo’s passing, tributes poured in from fans and fellow artists. OTF member Doodie Lo shared an emotional post on Instagram, writing,
“MY BFF MY BRUDDA MY DAWG TAUGHT ME ALOT THIS ONE HURT WOP MAN EVERYBODY KNOW OUR RELATIONSHIP. I GOT YO KIDS FOR LIFE WHEN I GOT SHOT YOU JUMPED ON THE ROAD NO QUESTIONS.”
Fans flooded social media with condolences and disbelief. “RIP Bay Zoo,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “They really got Bay Zoo??” another added.
THF Bayzoo’s death marks another heartbreaking loss in Chicago’s drill music community, which has seen several of its biggest stars — including King Von and FBG Duck — killed in recent years.
The drill movement, which emerged from Chicago’s South Side in the early 2010s, has become both a powerful cultural force and a reflection of the city’s ongoing struggles with gun violence.
As police continue their investigation, friends, family, and fans remember Bayzoo as a loyal friend, a fierce artist, and a man who stayed true to his roots — even when those streets proved deadly.
