By Alexis Taylor, AFRO News Editor
Family, friends and fans of slain rapper Kirsnick Khari Ball, better known by his stage moniker “Takeoff,” finally received answers today.
Police arrested and charged Patrick Xavier Clark with murder on Dec. 1 for the shooting that claimed Takeoff’s life in the early morning hours of Nov. 1.
According to the charging documents, Clark “knowingly discharged a deadly weapon, namely a firearm, in the direction of a group of persons that included the complainant Kirsnick Khari Ball and did thereby cause the death of Kirsnick Khari Ball.”
For a month fans have speculated about who fired the fatal shots that claimed the 28 year old’s life.
Many suspected that a man in a “yellow hoodie” was involved. In the days following Takeoff’s death, rumors circled that the young man in the yellow hoodie was killed in retaliation. Those rumors were found to be untrue, as police charged and arrested 22 year-old Cameron Joshua earlier this week.
Takeoff rose to fame as one part of the three-man group, the Migos.
The group was much more than just a team of artists that achieved multi-platinum status together.
Takeoff was a nephew and a cousin to fellow group members, Quavo and Offset, respectively. Unfortunately, the group recently parted ways, with Takeoff and Quavo continuing their music careers without Offset, husband of popular rapper, Cardi B.
Videos have been circulating online of the shooting, which took place outside of a Houston bowling alley immediately following a verbal altercation that was sparked during a dice game.
According to the documents filed, “shortly after the murder, the defendant applied for an expedited passport by submitting a travel itinerary for an upcoming flight to Mexico. Immediately prior to his arrest, the defendant received the passport.”
Authorities say Clark “was found in possession of a large amount of cash money” and “should be considered a flight risk.”
As a result of being charged with such a heinous crime, “the State is opposed to a personal bond,” specifically because Clark “shot a firearm into a crowd of people and struck the complainant [Takeoff] in the back and head, causing his death.”
The rapper was laid to rest after a funeral service held at the State Farm Arena on Nov. 11 in Atlanta.
