Man Arrested And Charged In Murder Of Rapper Takeoff

Police have arrested two people in connection with the fatal shooting of rapper Takeoff, who was killed outside of a bowling alley in Houston last month.

During a press conference on Friday, the Houston Police Department announced that 33-year-old Patrick Xavier Clark was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder for Takeoff’s death. Cameron Joshua, 22, was arrested on November 22 on a charge of felony possession of a weapon, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. Joshua is not believed to have fired a weapon during the shooting.

“I’m glad that a suspect has been arrested and charged with Takeoff’s death,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner, who attended the presser. “I think we’re bringing some comfort to the family, though it does not bring Takeoff back.”

Takeoff, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot dead after a fight broke out at Billiards & Bowling Houston after 1:00 a.m. on November 1. The rapper, 28, was struck in the head and torso.

“I want to express my regret and disappointment that this was a case of another young man taking the life of another young man for no reason,” Turner said.

The Democrat mayor further attributed the death to gun violence. “The gun violence everywhere, not just in the city of Houston, has to stop,” he explained. “Pulling a firearm can have deadly consequences that you cannot undo.”

Police said around 40 people were present at the time of the shooting, and two guns went off during the incident. Two others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, reports the Associated Press.

Video obtained by TMZ shows Quavo — a fellow rapper and member of the rap trio Migos — along with Takeoff and many others arguing before shots are fired and the group scatters.

Finner said the day after the shooting that there was “no reason to believe he was involved in anything criminal at the time.”

Takeoff is one of three in the rap group Migos, which rose to fame with the hit song “Versace” in 2013 and then topped the charts again with the 2016 rap song “Bad and Boujee.” That song was later certified four times platinum by RIAA, though Takeoff is not credited on the song and can only be seen in the background of the music video.

Takeoff and other Migo member Quavo release a joint album, “Only Built for Infinity Links,” just weeks before Takeoff’s death.