Texas grand jury indicts man in fatal shooting of rapper Takeoff

HOUSTON (AP) – The man accused of fatally shooting Migos rapper Takeoff last year outside a Houston bowling alley has been indicted on a murder charge, according to court records.

Patrick Xavier Clark was free on $1 million bond after a grand jury in Houston indicted him on Thursday.

Letitia Quinones-Hollins, one of Clark’s attorneys, said the indictment was not unexpected.

“When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury where we will be able to lay our evidence and cross-examine the State’s witnesses … we expect the jury to come back with a verdict of not guilty.” ,” Quiñones-Hollins said in a statement Thursday.

Takeoff was shot in the head and back as more than 30 people were leaving a private party at the bowling alley on 1 November at approximately 2:30 p.m. bowling alley, but the 28-year-old rapper was not involved and was “an innocent bystander”.

Clarke, 33, who worked as a DJ and nightclub promoter, was arrested on December 1.

Authorities allege surveillance video shows Clark holding a bottle of wine in one hand when he pulled out his gun. He was later identified by fingerprints found on the bottle. According to police, FBI sources also pointed to Clark being at the scene of the shooting.

Prosecutors alleged that Clark had tried to flee the country prior to his arrest, searching online for information about using counterfeit plane tickets to obtain an expedited passport.

Quinones-Hollins denied that Clark was trying to leave the country after the shooting.

Born Kirsnick Khari Ball, Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the Grammy-nominated rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also included his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset.

Clarke’s next court hearing is set for August 23.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: twitter.com/juanlozano70