Authorities revealed to The Houston Chronicle that 32 year old Michael Francis, who co-owned and operated Fam Tide Records in West Houston, shot himself in the head accidentally at the studio in the presence of friends and co-workers .

“He was just messing around is what we're being told,” Sgt. Robert Blain of HPD's homicide division told The Chronicle.

Preliminary information confirms the death was accidental.

Relatives and friends gathered outside the studio Friday night to grieve Francis’ passing.

“It was a terrible accident,” Francis’ mother told The Chronicle.

This marks the third time a rapper from Houston has passed away in the past few weeks.

In October,  rapper Big Moe died from a heart attack while UGK's Pimp C was found dead in his hotel room in Los Angeles in December.

Yesterday (January3), Houston legend O.G. Styles passed away from a brain hemorrhage.