Underground rapper Ricky Hampton, also known as Finese2Tymes, was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, early Sunday in connection with a shooting at a nightclub in Arkansas, according to US Marshal Cliff LaBarge.
Hampton was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, police said.
At least 28 people were injured early Saturday morning during the shooting at the Power Ultra Lounge in Little Rock where Hampton performed Saturday.
Several agencies including US Marshals, FBI and ATF were involved in the arrest, said LaBarge.
It was unclear if the rapper will be extradited to Arkansas.
Gang activity suspected
Of the injured, all but three were shot, and the others suffered related injuries. Two people are listed in critical condition, Police Chief Kenton Buckner said Saturday afternoon, and the others had non-life-threatening injuries.
Victims ranged in age from 16 to 35, he said.
Officials believe the shooting is related to gang activity, Buckner said.
“We do not believe this was an act of terror,” he said. “Some sort of dispute ensued.”
College student Khalid Stewart said he was visiting the club when the shooting took place.
‘At least 50 shots’
“It was during the performance and very unexpected,” he said in a Twitter message to CNN. “After the first few shots everybody was laying down. It was more than just a few shots too…it had to be at least be 50 shots and I’m not exaggerating.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will be assisting the Little Rock police with an investigation into the shooting, officials said.
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said Saturday the city plans to shut down the Power Ultra Lounge.
“This activity downtown is going to cease,” he said. “We’re going to be extra-vigilant.”
The club has two levels, with a restaurant on the first and a lounge on the second, according to a description on its Facebook page.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued a statement following the shooting, expressing sympathy for the victims and vowing action.
“Little Rock’s crime problem appears to be intensifying. Every few days it seems a high-profile shooting dominates the news, culminating with this morning’s event,” Hutchinson said in a statement.
Chaos at the scene
“We are still gathering facts, but it is clear that we need to have a comprehensive enforcement strategy in place that helps take the violent threats off the streets.”
Stewart said it was chaotic inside the club because people didn’t know where the shots were coming from.
“People didn’t know whether to run or stay down cause you couldn’t see where he was. You could just hear the gunshots. As soon as you saw people trying to run you see them run right back in,” he wrote.
“It was crazy.”
