Patrick Clark, accused of killing Takeoff, is out of jail months before his next court appearance in March. According to court records, Clark posted a $1 million bond on Wednesday (Jan. 4).
His bond conditions include wearing a GPS monitor while on house arrest at his parent’s home and drug testing, per Houston Chronicle.The self-employed DJ is also banned from owning a firearm, using alcohol or drugs, or contacting Takeoff’s family, perABC13. He also previously surrendered his passport.
Clark’s release comes after his legal team attempted to get the bond reduced multiple times, which initially started at $2 million. Police arrested Patrick on Dec. 1 on a murder charge, and he made his first court appearance on Dec. 2., where his attorney argued that Patrick did not pull the trigger.
However, in their investigation, detectives discovered that shots allegedly fired from Clark’s gun were the only ones to hit Takeoff–though other people were also shooting. In addition, fingerprints from a wine bottle Patrick was holding in one hand during the shooting reportedly helped police identify him as a suspect.
Additionally, there was a bond reduction hearing on Dec. 14, during which the judge reduced it to $1 million. His legal team pushed for another reduction. They claimed Clark is not a flight risk and doesn’t have assets to cover a $1 million bond, per KHOU11.
However, court documents say Patrick applied for an expedited passport after Takeoff’s death. The suspect also reportedly presented a Mexico-bound itinerary to back his request. Police found the passport and a large amount of cash on Clark during his arrest.
Last week, a judge ruled that the bond would remain at $1 million despite his team’s request for it to be $300,000. In response, Clark’s lawyer, Letitia Quinones, said she and her client “disagree with it” and were “very surprised by it.”
Elsewhere in December, a judge approved Clark’s $5,000 request to hire a private investigator, who will work for $85 an hour to help the defense prepare their case.
It’s unclear if Clark put up the entire $1 million bond or just a partial amount–typically 10 percent.
Migos rapper Takeoff was laid to rest on Nov.11 in an Atlanta memorial service after being shot and killed at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 1. The Harris County Medical examiner listed his primary cause of death as “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.”Takeoff was 28.
This is a developing story.
