Former basketball player Cliff Dixon was killed in a shooting outside a metro Atlanta bar where he was celebrating his birthday early Thursday morning.
Dixon, 32, who was best known for his high-profile and rocky relationship with “Love and Hip Hop: New York” star Erica Mena and his close friendship with Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant, was celebrating his birthday at SL Lounge on Buford Highway in the suburban Atlanta suburb of Chamblee when he was shot around 1 a.m. in the parking lot outside the nightclub, according to Fox 5 News.
When officers arrived on the scene, they described finding a victim who was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s. Reports say the wounded man, later confirmed to be Dixon, was transported to Atlanta’s Grady Hospital, where he would die of his wounds.
Cliff Dixon shot and killed. @cldtoon/Instagram)
Rapper Dave East who appeared to be close to Dixon, sent his condolences via Instagram, along with a photo of the victim.
“I Can’t think of no memories with @easymoneysniper or @tdurant And u wasn’t there. We been cool since like 16-17 years old 🤦🏽♂️,” East wrote on March 21. “Rest in heavenly peace bro u ain’t deserve whatever happen to u all we talked about was ball bi–hes and gettin to it!!!! God bless you cuzo real s–t 🙏🏽.”
Cliff Dixon. (@daveeast/Instagram)
Another friend who was close to Dixon is Akbar V., a female musician, who eulogized him on social media with a video that was recorded earlier this year.
“I didn’t even know u was behind me I might of turned around an was like u came an said i told I was coming ima miss u my friend ima miss u so much you know this Fu–ed me up,” she wrote.
The suspect responsible for shooting Dixon fled on foot, according to Chamblee Police, and no arrests have been announced as of the morning of March 21. Officers brought in a K-9 to track the shooters scent with no success. Investigators are hoping to identify the shooter on security cameras from the strip mall, but say that may be difficult because some of the cameras are inoperable. They also have been having trouble getting credible information from the witnesses on the scene.
The 32-year-old’s last post on social media was on March 20, welcoming folks to come out and celebrate his birthday with him.
Cliff Dixon shot and killed. @cldtoon/Instagram)
