ARCANI CROSSWORDS DIES IN SHOOTING ACCIDENT

Rapper ARCANI CROSSWORDS has died after suffering an accidental gunshot wound to the head.

The 32-year-old - born Michael Francis - was discovered by Houston, Texas police responding to reports of a shooting at 4pm on Friday (04Jan08).

Police spokesperson Sgt. Robert Blain believes Francis accidentally killed himself while playing with his gun.

Blain says, "He was just messing around is what we're being told."

Francis' brother Mark, who claims his hip-hop star sibling carried a gun for protection, adds, "We don't know exactly what happened, but we understand he had the gun in his hand and somehow it just went off."

Francis has previously served jail time for offences including marijuana possession, driving while suspended and evading arrest.