Reality TV star Kash is dead at 29 after a fatal shooting in downtown Oakland, California, just hours after she posted videos of her Saturday night out on Instagram Stories.
Kash, whose real name was Mackayla Paige, was gunned down shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday on the 200 block of 14th Street, according to authorities. Officers responding to the scene found her suffering from gunshot wounds and rushed her to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Police have arrested a woman from Richmond in connection with the killing, though investigators have not yet released the suspect’s identity or determined what led to the deadly encounter. The Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Section is actively investigating and has urged anyone with information to contact investigators at (510) 238-3821.
The influencer’s final social media activity offered no hint of the violence to come. She had shared videos to her Instagram Stories showing herself enjoying a Saturday night out shortly before she was killed, according to KTVU. Video circulating on TikTok after the shooting showed a heavy police presence outside Cave Lounge, near 14th and Harrison streets, though investigators have not confirmed whether the shooting occurred inside or outside the establishment.
Kash had built a following through appearances on reality series including “Real West Coast Baddies,” “RoomH8z” and “Young & Reckless.” Beyond television, she had pursued modeling work for multiple companies and harbored ambitions of launching her own business and building a career in makeup artistry.
Her cousin, Nicky Clayton, was still reeling as she helped assemble a memorial for the aspiring entertainer. “I’m in disbelief,” Clayton said. She noted that Kash had been spending time with family before her death and that she never imagined something like this would happen.
“She was chilling. She was with family. So she supposed to be good. I don’t know what transpired, but I know she’s supposed to be here,” Clayton told KTVU.
Clayton emphasized that her cousin’s drive for recognition never compromised her character. “She wanted to be famous so bad. She still had morals, don’t get me wrong. She wanted to be a reality star,” Clayton said. “She was wanted to start her own business. She was modeling for a lot of companies, and she really wanted to do makeup.”
Among those gathering at the memorial was Poodahh, a friend who bears “Spoil Me With Kash” tattooed on her hand. She recalled how Kash constantly pushed those around her to reach their potential. “She pushes me to be better every day. She sees when I’m not giving it my all, and she pushes me to be what she knows I could be,” Poodahh said, according to KTVU.
Poodahh also remembered the adventures they shared and her friend’s magnetic energy. “Oh my God, she was so fun. Was she not hella fun? Oh my God, this girl was so fun. She had us everywhere,” she said.
The loss remained too raw for Poodahh to accept. “She’s not gone. I can’t speak to her in the past tense,” she said. In a final tribute to Kash’s unfulfilled dreams, she added: “I’m sorry for all of our loss, because she’s a star.”