While the Insane Clown Posse are still seen as humorous to most (especially Saturday Night Live), it’s important to remember that they’re currently classified as a gang by the FBI. Although that’s also been laughed off by most, ICP are pretty serious about being labeled as such, and recently announced plans to sue the FBI. While it does seem like a stretch to classify a band’s fan base as a gang, a dispute between an ICP-inspired group that was embraced by Juggalos has ended in the death of one of it’s former members.

Hailing from Kansas City, Wicked Wayz looked up to Insane Clown Posse, and had even opened for them. Consisting of “Creepyface” (aka, Chad Ford) and “Devil Boy” (aka Daniel Bartlett). the group formed when Ford invited his brother-in-law to rap for him. Modest success followed, and Ford quit his job to devote himself to music. One of the band’s gimmicks was that the facepaint they used was invisible under normal light, but glowed under black light. While Ford worked on the music, Bartlett handled merchandising, promotion and business. It was a dispute over money that led Ford to leave the group, ultimately. He continued solo as Creepyface, as Bartlett took the Wicked Wayz name.

The two battled back and forth, with Creepyface writing songs like “I See a Hater” and “Laughing At You.” Bartlett responded via online insults. It all came to a head last month when Ford and his wife Theresa ran into a friend of Bartlett’s at the Kansas City municipal court while sorting out a traffic ticket for their teenage daughter. The two had words, and both men called for backup. Apparently, both factions brought guns, and a gun battle played out. Ford was the only one hit, and he died, allegedly at the hands of Barlett’s cousin, Michael “Mikey Myerz” McKeehan. Now Ford’s wife is raising three children and her husband is dead at the hands of her brother and cousin.

Gang battle? Maybe. Family dispute? That’s a little better of an explanation. Whatever it is, it’s unfortunate that it happened, but it’s not going to convince someone that already thinks that Juggalos are a gang that they aren’t. The two are being held, with Bartlett’s bond at $1 million. While Juggalos nationwide are discussing the beef turned deadly, there’s been no statement from Insane Clown Posse of Pyschopathic Records.

[The Kansas City Star, via The Daily Swarm]