The man suspected of killing rapper Takeoff of the group Migos has made a major power move in his defense, bringing in some of Houston’s heaviest-hitting criminal attorneys just eight months before his murder trial.
Patrick Xavier Clark better known in local circles as DJ Pat officially added veteran lawyers Kent Schaffer, Anthony Osso, and Dan Cogdell to his team in March 2026, according to court records. The switch replaces his previous counsel and won’t push back the trial date.
Takeoff was only 28 years old when he was fatally shot on November 1, 2022. The tragedy unfolded outside 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston after a private afterparty thrown by Jas Prince, son of Rap-A-Lot founder J. Prince. What started as a dice game argument spilled into the street. Police have always said Takeoff wasn’t involved in the dispute he was just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and at least one other person was wounded.
A tweet from X.
Houston police arrested Clark in December 2022. Prosecutors say surveillance footage shows him holding a gun in one hand and a wine bottle in the other, firing into the group. His fingerprints were found on the bottle left behind, and ballistics reportedly tied him to the shots. Clark has pleaded not guilty the whole time, insisting he’s innocent. His lawyers have floated self-defense arguments during pretrial hearings.
Schaffer, with more than 40 years in the game, has represented J. Prince himself, along with Travis Scott, Scarface, Pimp C, and plenty of other Houston hip-hop names. Osso has handled Prince-related cases before, and Cogdell brings serious big-trial experience. These are the kind of lawyers who know the Houston scene inside and out.
Jury selection is scheduled to kick off on November 5, 2026, with the trial expected to begin a few days later on November 9. So far, no plea deal has surfaced.
From the jump, social media and hip-hop forums filled with wild speculation talk of cover-ups, industry beefs, and all kinds of conspiracy theories tied to the party hosts. But the verified reporting from places like Click2Houston, the Houston Chronicle, and XXL sticks to what’s in the police reports and court filings. Rumors travel at light speed; actual evidence moves slower.
By stacking his defense with attorneys who’ve navigated these exact waters for years, Clark is clearly bracing for a major courtroom battle. One of the most closely watched tragedies in recent hip-hop history is finally headed for its public day in court.
