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Man charged in killing of Migos rapper Takeoff hires high-profile defense attorneys

Court filings show attorney swap as trial approaches

Takeoff of Migos performs at the Wireless Music Festival, Crystal Palace Park, London, England, on Sept. 12, 2021. Prosecutors allege the man accused of fatally shooting rapper Takeoff last month outside a Houston bowling alley sought information on how fake plane tickets could be used to obtain an expedited passport in his efforts to flee the country and repeatedly made online searches about whether he was a suspect. (AP Photo/Scott Garfitt, File) (Scott Garfitt, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

HOUSTONTakeoff murder suspect hires high-profile defense team ahead of trial.

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Patrick Clark, the man charged in the killing of Migos rapper Takeoff, is bringing in a new defense team months before trial.

Patrick Xavier Clark in court on Dec. 10, 2025. (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Court records show Clark is replacing attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins with Houston defense lawyer Kent Schaffer.

Attorneys Dan Cogdell and Anthony Osso have also joined the case.

At the same time, attorney Carl Moore filed a motion to withdraw, telling the court Clark has retained new council.

Fans of Migos rapper Takeoff looked on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 as Houston police were at the scene of a shooting at a retail complex in downtown Houston. A representative of the group Migos has confirmed that Takeoff was killed during a shooting at a bowling alley at the three-story retail complex. (AP Photo/Juan Lozano) (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Police say Clark fired into a group of people near a downtown Houston bowling alley in 2022. Investigators say the gunfire hit Kirshnik Khari Ball, known as Takeoff of the Migos.

The filings state the change is not intended to delay the case.

Clark’s trial is currently set for November.