HOUSTON (AP) — An attorney for a man accused of killing rapper Tykov last month said Monday that The death of the musician Outside a bowling alley in Houston it was a tragedy but her client says he is innocent of the crime.
Patrick Xavier Clarke, 33, made a brief court appearance during which plaintiffs and defense attorneys agreed to a bond-reduction hearing on Dec. 14. He was arrested for murder last week He was imprisoned on a $2 million bond.
Clark, who is in handcuffs and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, did not say anything during Monday’s hearing. One of Clark’s attorneys, Letitia Quinones, told reporters after the hearing that Clark feels “nervous and he’s anxious” because “he’s being accused of something he thinks he’s innocent of, so how can anyone do in that kind of circumstance?”
Prosecutors declined to comment on Monday.
Takeoff, 28, was shot At the head and back as 30+ people were leaving a private party at the bowling alley. Houston police said in a news conference Friday that the shooting followed an argument over a “profitable” dice game around 2:30 a.m. Nov. 1, but Tykov was not involved and was an “innocent bystander.”
Police said another man and woman sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, and at least two people opened fire. Police said investigators are still trying to trace witnesses.
Boy Kersnick Khari PaulTakeoff was the youngest member of Migos, a Grammy-nominated rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset.
Houston Police Chief Troy Fenner said last week that investigators didn’t know if Clark had been invited to the party or if he knew Tikoff. Clark works as a DJ, according to court records.
Asked Monday if Clark was aware of the Takeoff program, Quinones said, “We don’t really want to get into the facts at this point.”
She said Tykov’s death was “a tragedy and it happens all too well in our communities.”
There is a lot of investigation to be done. … So, we’re just asking that everyone be open-minded and let the system do its part and let the constitution do its part, and he’s now innocent until proven guilty,” Quinones said.
Court records indicate that Clark was arrested as he was preparing to leave the country for Mexico after obtaining an urgent passport and that he had a “significant amount” of money.
Quinones said Clark had planned to go to Mexico on vacation but canceled his trip before he was arrested.
“He wasn’t trying to go anywhere,” Quinones said.
Migos first broke through with the mega-hit “Versace” in 2013. They had four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, though Takeoff wasn’t on their multi-week debut with “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. . They put out a trio of albums called Culture, Second Culture, and Third Culture, with the first two albums hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Takeoff and Quavo put out the song “Built Just for the Endless Links”. Tykov hoped the joint album would build respect for his singing abilities, saying on the DrinkChamps podcast, “It’s time to give me flowers.”
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Future teen idol. Typical social media ninja. Alcohol buff. Explorer. Creator. Beer advocate.”