The Takeoff murder trial will not begin this week. Court documents reported Tuesday show the case against Patrick Xavier Clark now carries a new start date of April 15, 2027.
Takeoff Murder Trial Moves To April 15, 2027
Jury selection in the Takeoff murder trial had been set for Thursday, Nov. 5. HotNewHipHop reports that opening proceedings were expected the following week. XXL obtained the court documents and calls Nov. 5 the old trial date. A February report from Click2Houston told a slightly different story. It quoted Clark’s attorney at the time, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, who said the trial would start Nov. 9 with jury selection beginning Nov. 5. The outlets agree on the main point. The case now sits roughly five months later than planned.
The reset arrives just days after the fourth anniversary of the rapper’s death on Nov. 1, 2022. Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was 28. Clark, 36, a local DJ per XXL, has pleaded not guilty to murder. HotNewHipHop reports that he was arrested in December 2022, so the case has run nearly four years without a trial. He remains free on a $1 million bond. HotNewHipHop reports that he faces a possible life sentence if a jury convicts him. None of the articles reviewed names the court or the judge handling the case. None of them gives a date for the next hearing.
Why Patrick Xavier Clark’s Defense Team Wanted More Time
XXL spoke with defense attorney Kent Schaffer about the delay. Schaffer pointed to scheduling conflicts on both sides. He also said prosecutors recently handed over a large batch of evidence that Clark’s earlier lawyers never saw. In his view, the material does not hurt the defense, but his team needs time to study it. He told XXL the defense still expects to prevail.
HotNewHipHop reached a different place. Its report says the postponement came with no stated reason. The outlet notes that a September defense request to independently examine bullets and other evidence held by Houston police has no clear link to the date change. The two accounts do not conflict. Only XXL carries the lawyer’s explanation.
The defense table has changed since February. HotNewHipHop reports that Clark hired a new team in March, including Houston attorneys Kent Schaffer and Dan Cogdell. Click2Houston named Quinones-Hollins as his lawyer in February, so the attorney who announced the November dates no longer leads the case. That change fits with Schaffer’s point about evidence the earlier team never reviewed. The case has also slipped before. The Click2Houston page links to a Dec. 10, 2025 report on a hearing that moved to January.
What Prosecutors Say Happened At The Houston Bowling Alley
Takeoff died after a shooting around 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2022, at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston, according to Click2Houston. The venue hosted a private party that night. Takeoff attended with his uncle and fellow Migos member Quavo.
Prosecutors say the violence began with an argument tied to a dice game. The outlets describe the location a little differently. XXL places the argument in the venue’s lobby. HotNewHipHop says the gunfire happened outside. Investigators say Takeoff took no part in the dispute. XXL reports that he was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. Click2Houston reports that two other people were shot and survived.
Prosecutors allege that surveillance video shows Clark pointing a gun and firing toward a group of people. They also say investigators recovered his fingerprints from a wine bottle near the scene. Clark has consistently denied firing the fatal shots, per Click2Houston. His lawyers dispute the state’s account.
Takeoff’s Parents Still Fight Over The Wrongful Death Settlement
A civil case adds a second layer. Takeoff’s mother, Titania Davenport, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the venue in June 2023. XXL reports that the case settled in December 2025 for an undisclosed amount. She now disputes with Takeoff’s father, Kenneth Ball, over how to divide the money. HotNewHipHop reports that Quavo and Offset appear as potential witnesses in that fight. Neither has confirmed he will testify. XXL says the judge has not ruled on the split.
The criminal and civil tracks could overlap in the public eye. Quavo also released a trailer for his upcoming SATCHAMO album that honors Takeoff, HotNewHipHop reported Tuesday. Several items bear watching. The defense still has to review the new evidence. A ruling on the settlement split could land before the criminal trial. And a new April date does not guarantee a start. This case has already moved more than once.
