A Little Rock police spokesman on Thursday named two men as persons of interest in the killing of a 14-year-old boy last summer.
The two men -- Kenwan "Booman" Sherrod and Machita Decosta "Frog" Mitchell Jr. -- have not been charged in the killing but are considered persons of interest in the July shooting death of teenager Cyncere Alexander, according to Little Rock police spokesman officer Steve Moore.
The teenager's father, Chris Alexander, is a member of the Wolfe Street Crips, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Little Rock.
Citing numerous street sources and confidential informants, a Pulaski County investigator testified in federal court this week that authorities believe Chris Alexander somehow ripped off Mitchell, and possibly Sherrod, "of a large amount of either money or marijuana."
The Pulaski County investigator, Sgt. Chris Schmeckenbecher, also confirmed in court that Sherrod, in a previous hearing, testified that he was associated with the Wolfe Street Crips and that Mitchell is a known Wolfe Street gang member.
Schmeckenbecher testified there are phone conversations in which Sherrod tells Mitchell that Chris Alexander has put "10 bands" on him, something said in reference to a hit being put out on him.
"We believe that it's possibly related to the fact that Chris Alexander believes that Sherrod has something to do with his son's murder," Schmeckenbecher said in court.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe on Tuesday found that Sherrod is a danger to the community and ruled that he remain in custody, according to federal court documents.
"I'd be real surprised if Mr. Sherrod isn't in the sights of Little Rock detectives on that," Volpe said in court, referring to the teen's killing.
Schmeckenbecher's testimony also provided brief insight into the gang conflict that preceded the mass shooting at the Power Ultra Lounge, which left 25 people shot and three other injured as they fled the scene.
"The incident leading up to [the shooting] was basically a gang argument over someone disrespecting a gang member that had been recently deceased," he testified.
[INTERACTIVE MAP: Search all killings in Little Rock, North Little Rock in 2017]
In a statement released last month, the U.S. attorney's office in Little Rock said a rivalry between the Wolfe Street Crips and the Bloods-affiliated Real Hustlers Incorporated precipitated the club shooting.
Schmeckenbecher, in court, said Tyler Clay Jackson, who was said by police to have fired the first shot in the incident, told authorities that Sherrod, Mitchell and another person all went to the club together.
Schmeckenbecher testified that authorities were told that Mitchell gave a 10mm pistol to Jackson before the shooting. And according to Jackson, Sherrod pulled a gun out during the incident and tried to shoot, but the firearm jammed and he could not get a shot off, the investigator testified.
Sherrod and Mitchell have not been charged in the nightclub shooting. However, both face multiple federal counts, including drug and gun charges, federal court documents show.
Chris Alexander also faces multiple federal drug and firearm charges.
Metro on 03/09/2018