Rapper Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was shot and killed at a downtown Houston bowling alley in the early hours of November 1, 2022, and the murder case tied to his shooting is now scheduled to go to trial in November 2026. Houston police called the 28-year-old Migos founder an innocent bystander struck by gunfire that broke out after an argument over a dice game. Patrick Xavier Clark, arrested a month later, is charged with his murder and has been free on bond since early 2023.
What Happened at 810 Billiards and Bowling
The shooting took place around 2:30 a.m. at 810 Billiards & Bowling in the 1200 block of San Jacinto Street.1GPB News. Houston Police Seek Witnesses in Rapper Takeoff’s Killing Takeoff was at a private party held after the venue closed for regular business. Roughly 40 people were still there when a high-stakes dice game on the third-floor balcony spilled into an argument and then gunfire.2FOX 26 Houston. Takeoff Murder: One Year Since Rapper’s Tragic Death
Homicide Sgt. Michael Burrow said Takeoff was not in the dice game, not part of the argument, and not armed.3ABC 13. Who Killed Takeoff: Migos Rapper Shot Dead in Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at least two people discharged firearms.1GPB News. Houston Police Seek Witnesses in Rapper Takeoff’s Killing Takeoff was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office determined he died of penetrating gunshot wounds to the head and torso.2FOX 26 Houston. Takeoff Murder: One Year Since Rapper’s Tragic Death Two other people were wounded and taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Takeoff’s uncle and Migos bandmate Quavo was at the scene, along with professional boxer Shakur Stevenson. Police said more than 30 people were present when the shooting happened, and nearly all left without speaking to officers, slowing the early investigation.3ABC 13. Who Killed Takeoff: Migos Rapper Shot Dead in Houston
Who Was Charged
Without cooperative witnesses, investigators leaned on surveillance video, cell phone footage, physical evidence, and shooting reconstruction. They identified Patrick Xavier Clark, then 33, of Channelview, Texas, as the person who fired the shots that killed Takeoff. Surveillance footage showed Clark pointing and firing toward a group of people, and his fingerprints were recovered from a wine bottle he was holding while shooting.4ABC 13. Who Killed Takeoff: Migos Murder Suspect Investigators recovered nine .40 caliber casings and one 9mm casing at the scene.5ABC 7. Migos Rapper Takeoff Killed: Murder Investigation
Clark was arrested on December 1, 2022, on the east side of Houston. Before the arrest, he had bought a plane ticket to Cancun, Mexico, and applied for an expedited passport. Police found a large amount of cash on him when he was taken into custody.4ABC 13. Who Killed Takeoff: Migos Murder Suspect
The second shooter seen on surveillance was Willie Bland, described as an associate of Quavo’s camp. Bland told investigators he fired three shots at another man, Cameron Joshua, after an altercation, and investigators concluded none of Bland’s bullets struck Takeoff.6Click2Houston. New Details Released in Fatal Shooting of Takeoff The file does not show Bland was charged in connection with the shooting. Joshua, 22, was separately charged with two counts of felon in possession of a weapon, and police said he was not alleged to have been directly involved in Takeoff’s death.3ABC 13. Who Killed Takeoff: Migos Rapper Shot Dead in Houston
Where the Criminal Case Stands
Clark’s murder case is in the Harris County 232nd District Court.7Houston Public Media. Concerned Citizen Posts $1 Million Bond for Patrick Clark Bond was set at $2 million and then reduced to $1 million by Judge Josh Hill on December 14, 2022. A “concerned citizen and family friend” posted the bond on January 4, 2023, and Clark was released under continuous house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor. His passport was surrendered to the court.8ABC 13. Patrick Clark Charged: Bond Hearing A grand jury indicted him on the murder charge on May 25, 2023.9KTVU. Takeoff Shooting Suspect Patrick Xavier Clark Indicted for Murder He has maintained his innocence.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin November 5, 2026, with the trial set for November 9, 2026. Clark’s defense team expects it to last two to three weeks.10Click2Houston. Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Killing Migos Rapper Takeoff Prosecutors plan to lean on surveillance footage and the fingerprint evidence from the wine bottle. The defense has said Clark did not fire the fatal shots.11Houston Chronicle. Takeoff Murder Trial Scheduled for Patrick Clark
Clark has cycled through several attorneys. Carl Moore represented him through late 2025, and Letitia Quinones-Hollins took over by early 2026, publicly signaling a possible self-defense theory.12Revolt. Trial Date Set in Takeoff Killing In March 2026 Clark replaced her with veteran Houston defense lawyer Kent Schaffer, joined by Dan Cogdell and Anthony Osso. A court filing said the change was “not meant to slow down the case.”13Click2Houston. Murder Suspect in Death of Migos Rapper Takeoff Hires High-Profile Defense Team
The Forensic Brady Notice
In 2024, Clark’s case was flagged as one of 392 pending Houston Forensic Science Center matters covered by a Brady Notice from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The notice grew out of the conduct of former forensic analyst Rochelle Austen, who was fired in March 2024 after an internal investigation found she had switched DNA samples during proficiency tests and violated chain-of-custody rules.14Click2Houston. Forensic Fumble: Unraveling the Brady Notices Including Takeoff’s Murder The forensic science center said its review had not found compromised casework, describing the errors as occurring in proficiency test materials rather than actual cases.15ABC 13. Forensic Analyst Rochelle Austen: Takeoff Murder Case The notice could give Clark’s lawyers grounds to challenge forensic evidence or impeach a witness at trial.
The Civil Case Against the Venue
On June 7, 2023, Takeoff’s mother, Titania Davenport, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Harris County court against the property owners and operators tied to 810 Billiards & Bowling. Named defendants included 810 Houston LLC, LVA4 Houston Greenstreet LP, Lionstone Partners LLC, Midway Companies LLC, and Cushman and Wakefield of Texas, Inc.16Houston Public Media. Takeoff’s Mother Sues Operators of Houston Property Where He Was Shot and Killed The suit alleged the venue failed to provide adequate security for the after-hours event, pointing to the absence of metal detectors, trained security personnel, and proper surveillance.17Rolling Stone. Takeoff Mother Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Houston Venue Owners
Joshua Washington, one of the two people wounded in the shooting, filed his own negligence lawsuit against the venue and related companies, accusing them of “gross negligence.” Washington said publicly there were no security guards trying to stop the shooting and no working metal detector at the venue.18Houston Public Media. Man Wounded in Takeoff Shooting Sues Houston Bowling Alley Over Inadequate Security
By mid-2026, the wrongful death lawsuit had resolved in a confidential settlement. How that money is divided is still being fought over.19BET. Takeoff’s Parents Are in a New Court Fight Over His Wrongful Death Settlement
The Fight Over the Settlement
Takeoff died without a will, so his estate passes under Georgia’s intestacy laws. Because he had no children, those laws designate his parents as heirs, and a probate case is pending in Fulton County, Georgia.20Complex. Takeoff Parents Wrongful Death Settlement Dispute
Takeoff’s father, Kenneth Ball, joined the wrongful death lawsuit as an intervenor in December 2023, seeking compensation for burial and funeral expenses. With the case now settled, Davenport and Ball disagree over the split. Davenport argues Ball was “barely present” in Takeoff’s life and provided negligible financial or emotional support, so he should not receive half. Ball says his level of involvement during Takeoff’s upbringing has no bearing on his legal entitlement under inheritance law.19BET. Takeoff’s Parents Are in a New Court Fight Over His Wrongful Death Settlement They also disagree on where the fight should happen. Ball wants it decided in Texas, where the civil case was filed; Davenport wants it moved to the Georgia probate court. As of June 2026, no judge had ruled on how the settlement would be divided.20Complex. Takeoff Parents Wrongful Death Settlement Dispute
Aftermath for Quavo and Migos
A public celebration of life was held for Takeoff on November 11, 2022, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where Quavo, Offset, and Drake delivered eulogies.21E! News. Takeoff Honored During Celebration of Life in Atlanta Since then, Quavo has focused on gun violence prevention. He met privately with Vice President Kamala Harris, appeared on a Congressional Black Caucus panel with Senator Raphael Warnock and Representative Lucy McBath, and backed the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which would provide $6.5 billion in federal grants for community violence intervention.22FOX 26 Houston. Quavo Advocates Against Gun Violence in Washington Quavo and his family launched the Rocket Foundation in Takeoff’s honor, committing $2 million to community violence intervention.23FOX 5 Atlanta. Quavo Gun Violence Takeoff Shooting Death Advocate
Migos had effectively been on an indefinite hiatus by the time of the shooting, with Offset pursuing a solo career and suing the group’s label over ownership of his solo recordings.24Rolling Stone. Takeoff Shot Dead: Migos Obituary Offset appeared at the memorial and eulogized his bandmate. Takeoff’s death ended any prospect of a reunion.