The Houston DJ accused of being involved in the Nov. 1 shooting death of Takeoff proclaimed his innocence at his first court appearance this week on charges related to the Migos rapper’s murder, despite allegedly trying to flee the country with large amounts of cash before his arrest.
Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, known locally as DJ Pat, appeared in court on Monday (Dec. 5), where his attorney argued her client was not the one who pulled the trigger after an argument erupted during a dice game and ended in Takeoff’s death, according to Fox19.
Prosecutors and Clark’s defense lawyers also both agreed to schedule a bond reduction hearing on December 14. Clark was arrested on a murder charge on Dec. 1 and is currently being held on a $2 million bond.
He allegedly attempted to flee to Mexico prior to his arrest with an emergency passport, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.
A motion submitting during a bond hearing claimed that Clark had applied for the expedited passport shortly after Takeoff died, and reportedly presented a Mexico-bound itinerary to legitimize his rushed request.
Prosecutors added that the Mexico trip and the arrest record, which states Clark had large amounts of cash when he was apprehended, were more than enough to prove he is a flight risk.
Following Monday’s court appearance, Clark’s attorney Letitia Quinones told reporters that her client is “nervous and he’s concerned” due to “being charged with something that he believes he’s innocent of, so how would anyone do in that type of circumstance?”
Quinones was vague when asked about Clark’s relationship with Takeoff.
“We really don’t want to go into the facts at this point,” she said. “There is a lot of investigation that needs to be done,” she added. “So, we just ask that everyone keep an open mind and let the system do its part and let the Constitution do its part and that is, right now he’s innocent until he’s proven guilty.”
Clark is one of two men to be arrested on charges related to the 28-year-old rapper’s death.
Local Houston rapper Lil Cam (22-year-old Cameron Joshua) was also taken into custody last month, as previously reported by The Shade Room.
On Nov. 22, Joshua was charged with felony unlawful carry of a weapon, The Shade Room reported last week.
Prosecutors argue that CCTV footage shows Joshua holding a weapon at the scene, however they didn’t necessarily accuse him of being the one to shoot Takeoff.
Last week, Joshua’s lawyer, Christopher Downey, told reporters that his client was not the one responsible for Takeoff’s death and added that widespread speculation on social media has exacerbated Joshua’s situation.
“I haven’t seen anything to suggest that Cameron Joshua had anything to do with the shooting, that he discharged a firearm that caused [Takeoff’s] death or was he even involved,” Downey said. “My understanding is there was some type of skirmish.
Downey went on to say “I’m familiar with all the Instagram sleuths. They remind me of the blind guy who tries to figure out an elephant and grabs its trunk and thinks it’s a snake. The bottom line is they’re wrong. Cameron Joshua did not shoot Takeoff.”
