LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Who are some of the people arrested during the federal operation Thursday? We’re taking a closer look.
Let’s start with the Muhammad family.
Bilal Johns Muhammad was arrested Thursday. He’s half-brothers to NFL star Darren McFadden. Bilal’s 21-year-old son was also busted.
There have been at least seven occasions where Muhammad family members or their homes have been victim to gunfire. (http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/family-connected-to-lr-trail-of-violence/757191312)
 | Family Connected to LR “Trail of Violence” | ArkansasMatters www.arkansasmatters.com At least three victims inside the Power Ultra Lounge shooting are members of a family police have connected as part of the ongoing violence seen in the Capital City. |
The Democrat-Gazette reports Robert Turpin, also arrested Thursday, was shot in March of 2017. (http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/27/man-asked-phone-then-shot-little-rock-hotel-police/)
 | Man asked for phone, then shot at Little Rock hotel … www.arkansasonline.com Comments on: Man asked for phone, then shot at Little Rock hotel, police say |
Nearly every suspect in this project has been in trouble with the law at one point.
By the end of Project Safe Neighborhood, 49 people will be arrested on a total of 89 charges. There are 74 drug-related charges ranging from marijuana to cocaine and heroin. There are 15 weapon-related charges, some of those guns in the hands of felons.
Demetric Williams was one of two gunshot victims at a home on West 11st Street last year. (http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/feb/10/2-transported-hospitals-after-being-shot-outside-l/?f=news-arkansas)
| 2 transported to hospitals after being shot outside Little … www.arkansasonline.com Two people were taken to local hospitals after sustaining injuries in a shooting in front of a Little Rock home early Thursday, according to police. |
The Arkansas Times reports Donovan Whittington was interviewed about a 2013 homicide and released without any charges filed. (https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/05/09/prosecutor-to-review-shooting-for-possible-charges)
 | Prosecutor to review shooting for possible charges … www.arktimes.com New information on a shooting late Tuesday night on Black Jack Court in Southwest Little Rock. |
Let’s go back further.
A newspaper article from 2006 shows Jermaine Rauls was at the scene of a killing. (https://www.pressreader.com/usa/arkansas-democrat-gazette/20061115/281943128385002)
PressReader.com – Connecting People Through News www.pressreader.com format available for free. |
“We have a few wars on the street but we’re trying to get them solved on the street because the police aren’t solving,” Chris Alexander said in a 2016 interview.
Alexander was also arrested Thursday.
In a 2016 interview, Alexander said his organization was being used to get rid of the gang problem. (http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/gangs-in-little-rock/617206635)
 | Gangs in Little Rock | ArkansasMatters | KARK and KARZ www.arkansasmatters.com LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – To better understand violence and gangs in Little Rock, we spoke with a man who was on the streets for 25 years. “They live by a certain code on … |
“They live by a certain code on the streets. On the street they live by something different,” said Alexander.
Authorities say Alexander is a member of the Wolfe Street Crips and purported a community activist.
Alexander’s 14-year-old son Cyncere was shot and killed last year. His killer has not been arrested.
