Before his upcoming court appearance in March, Patrick Clark, the man suspected of killing Takeoff, has been released from prison. Clark posted a $1 million bond on Wednesday, according to court documents (Jan. 4).
According to the Houston Chronicle, one of his bond conditions is to submit to drug testing while under house arrest at his parents’ residence and wear a GPS monitor.
Per ABC13, the independent DJ is also forbidden from having a gun, abusing drugs or alcohol, and getting in touch with Takeoff’s family. Additionally, he earlier turned in his passport.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts by Clark’s legal team to have the $2 million bond reduced, Patrick Clark was finally released. Patrick was detained by police on December 1 on suspicion of murder, and on December 2, when he appeared in court for the first time, his lawyer argued that Patrick was not the shooter.
Despite additional shooters, only rounds from Clark’s gun, according to the police’ findings, struck Takeoff. Patrick reportedly assisted police in identifying him as a suspect thanks to fingerprints found on a wine bottle he was holding during the incident.
Additionally, there was a bond reduction hearing on Dec. 14, during which the judge reduced it to $1 million. His legal team pushed for another reduction. They claimed Clark is not a flight risk and doesn’t have assets to cover a $1 million bond, per KHOU11.
However, court documents say Patrick Clark applied for an expedited passport after Takeoff’s death. The suspect also reportedly presented a Mexico-bound itinerary to back his request. Police found the passport and a large amount of cash on Clark during his arrest.
Last week, a judge ruled that the bond would remain at $1 million despite his team’s request for it to be $300,000. In response, Clark’s lawyer, Letitia Quinones, said she and her client “disagree with it” and were “very surprised by it.”
Elsewhere in December, a judge approved Clark’s $5,000 request to hire a private investigator, who will work for $85 an hour to help the defense prepare their case.
It’s unclear if Patrick Clark put up the entire $1 million bond or just a partial amount–typically 10 percent.
Migos rapper Takeoff was laid to rest on Nov.11 in an Atlanta memorial service after being shot and killed at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 1. The Harris County Medical examiner listed his primary cause of death as “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.” Takeoff was 28.