Key Takeaways
- Patrick Xavier Clark maintains his innocence as his murder trial in Takeoff’s killing moves from November to April 15, 2027.
- Defense attorney Kent Schaffer cited scheduling conflicts and newly disclosed evidence that needs review, adding, “We still fully expect to prevail.”
- Police described Takeoff, 28, as an unarmed bystander in the November 2022 Houston shooting; Clark faces life in prison if convicted.
Patrick Xavier Clark, the Houston man accused of killing Migos rapper Takeoff, will not go to trial in November as previously expected.
Harris County court records in The State of Texas vs. Patrick Xavier Clark show his jury trial has been moved to Apr. 15, 2027. Jury selection had been set to commence on Nov. 5.
Clark's attorney Kent Schaffer explained the delay in a statement to XXL, saying, "Both sides had numerous trial conflicts, and the state recently turned over a large amount of evidence that had not been seen by Mr. Clark's previous counsel. While there is nothing harmful in that evidence, we still need time to review it. We still fully expect to prevail."
Clark, a Houston DJ, has pleaded not guilty to murder. His attorneys reject the prosecution's version of events and maintain he did not kill Takeoff.
Clark’s defense team has changed this year. In March, Clark dropped attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins and brought on Schaffer, with Dan Cogdell and Anthony Osso also joining the team.
In September, the defense asked for permission to have its own expert independently test the bullets and other evidence held by Houston police.
Takeoff, 28, was shot in the head and killed around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2022, at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston. Police said the shooting grew out of an argument after a high-stakes dice game he had no part in, and they described him as an unarmed, innocent bystander.
Clark was arrested on Dec. 1, 2022, and charged with murder. Prosecutors allege surveillance video shows him firing toward a group of people, and investigators say his fingerprints were found on a wine bottle left near the scene.
Clark could face life in prison if convicted.
