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BOUNCER PROBED IN PROOF DEATH: Also, heated game of pool may have led to gunfire.

(April 14, 2006)

*Police investigating the shooting death of rapper Proof have questioned a 28-year-old bouncer who was working the night of the incident at Detroit’s C.C.C. nightclub.

Mario Etheridge, 28, of Detroit, spoke to investigators Wednesday about the incident that took the life of Proof, born Deshaun Holton, and critically injured a second man, 32-year-old Keith Bender, the Detroit Free Press reported. Bender, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, is also the cousin of Etheridge, and remained in critical condition and on life support early Thursday at St. John Hospital.

Police said Wednesday that Proof, 32, fired the first bullet during the shootout that erupted at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, more than two hours after the club was supposed to close for the night. Investigators now believe Proof was shot after he pistol-whipped and shot Bender at the venue on Eight Mile Road, the street made famous in the 2002 film starring Proof’s close friend, rapper Eminem.

Bender’s attorney Randall Upshaw told WXYZ-TV: "The understanding of every witness we've spoken to is that Proof pulled out a weapon. Proof shot Keith in the face, and Keith was unarmed."

Proof, a member of the Detroit rap group D12, was shot three times in the head and chest, according to the Wayne County medical examiner's office. He was driven privately to a nearby outpatient treatment center, where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, reports say that the shooting may have escalated from a fight over a pool game.

“A shot was fired in the air, Proof allegedly pistol-whipped Bender, knocked him to the ground and then shot him,” writes Allhiphop.com's Nolan Strong. “Etheridge then allegedly opened fire on the rapper.”

Bender's mother, Leona Bender, told reporters Thursday that she and her family were just "trying to cope."

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