Takeoff’s Alleged Killer Maintains Innocence In Court Appearance

Takeoff’s alleged killer appeared in court, maintaining his innocence while arguing self-defense.

Rolling Stone reports that the man, Patrick Xavier Clark, appeared before a judge on Thursday (Oct. 26). Clark was arrested in December 2022 for the rapper’s death based on ballistics evidence. Still, the suspect’s legal team is claiming self-defense.

“He maintains his innocence. We do believe that he has a valid self-defense claim. I don’t think they can say with any degree of certainty that it was Patrick who actually fired the shot that took Takeoff’s life. There was someone else who started the shooting, it was not Patrick Clark,” defense attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins told the outlet.

“He was in the same position that Takeoff was in, he was trying to get out of there alive as well. He didn’t have anything to do with the argument that occurred. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when people started firing weapons.”

Patrick Xavier Clark was previously indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in May 2023.

Police arrested the 33-year-old a month after the shooting during a traffic stop by the Harris Police Department Gang Division. At that time, Clark reportedly had a lump sum of cash, a passport, and a gun with him.

In a July 2023 interview, Quavo shared how he has been grieving his nephew. The “Greatness” artist opened up in the Conversation For The Fans segment about how his life and creative journey have been altered since Take’s death.

“I miss him a lot and I love him. He know I love him. That’s what we always know. So when you see me and you see me smiling or something like that, you don’t gotta never think I forgot about him or I’ll forget about him. I think about him all the time. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep. And that’s it. I just know he’s here. If I can’t feel him, I just know he’s around,” he said.

Clark’s next court date is Jan. 23, 2024.

More from VIBE.com

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