A 25-year-old Memphis man who worked as a bodyguard for the rapper who was on stage when shots rang out at a Little Rock nightclub earlier this month has become the first person to face charges tied to the shooting, which injured more than two dozen people.
The rapper, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge related to another recent shooting in Arkansas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Givens said the bodyguard, Kentrell Gwynn, was arrested earlier Tuesday on preliminary charges of providing a firearm to a felon, providing a firearm to an unlawful drug user and conspiracy to do so.
Those charges are tied to both the July 1 shooting at the Power Ultra Lounge in Little Rock, where 25 people were shot and three others injured trying to escape, and a separate shooting outside a Forrest City club days earlier, Givens said.
Givens said Gwynn was with Hampton when he was arrested in Alabama the day after the Little Rock shooting. Three pistols were in their vehicle, Givens said, and one of those that Gwynn said was his "matched to shell casings from Power Ultra Lounge."
Hampton, who performs under the name Finese 2Tymes, is not charged in the Little Rock shooting, though authorities have described him as a "person of interest" in that investigation.
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Photos by Brandon Riddle
Photos by Brandon Riddle
Gwynn and Hampton appeared separately Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney in the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Hampton, 25, faces a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a shooting June 25 outside Club Envy in Forrest City. He also faces state charges of aggravated assault and first-degree battery.
On July 6, a federal grand jury indicted Hampton on the federal firearm charge.
Witnesses to the Forrest City shooting say Hampton became angry as he left the club and began screaming profanities at a woman blocking an exit with her vehicle. When the woman attempted to move out of the way, the rapper reportedly fired a shot from an AK-47-style pistol, wounding her in the neck.
Hampton acknowledged that he "pulled out the Draco," referring to the weapon, but denied shooting at the woman, according to an affidavit.
In question during Tuesday's hearing for Hampton was the appointment of counsel, based on paperwork indicating that the rapper makes $40,000 a month. Kearney said further review would be needed to determine the rapper's financial status and his eligibility for counsel.
Also addressed was Hampton's status at the St. Francis County jail, including what his counsel said was a lack of consideration on the part of the jail regarding bail.
Records show Hampton was convicted in 2010 in Shelby County, Tenn., on two separate aggravated robbery charges.
At Gwynn's appearance later Tuesday, he was deemed eligible for special counsel based on financial records. His probable cause hearing was waived.
He appeared in a dark gray jumpsuit, handcuffed and with his head facing down throughout much of the hearing.
Gwynn was issued an order of detention before Judge Jerome T. Kearney.
Hampton's trial is set for 9:15 a.m. Aug. 21 in U.S. District Judge J. Leon Holmes' court.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
