Suge Knight -- Why He Was Arrested for Murder

Law enforcement does NOT believe Suge Knight intended to run over and kill his friend Thursday, but they DO believe he tried to run over another guy and that's enough to charge him with murder.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... they have interviewed multiple witnesses who say the man Suge seemed to be after was Cle "Bone" Sloan, an actor who has appeared in "Training Day" and "End of Watch."

Suge and Bone were in a physical altercation before he threw his truck in reverse. Witnesses say Suge gunned the car in reverse twice, as if to make sure he hit his target.

The man who died, Terry Carter, was a passenger in the truck when they arrived. He's a good friend of Suge's who was apparently dealing with Bone behind the truck when Suge gunned it.

Even though Suge clearly did not intend to kill Carter, in California and most states, if someone in the process of committing a felony accidentally kills someone in the process ... he can be charged with murder.

Short story ... if Suge was gunning for Bone, that would constitute a felony -- assault with a deadly weapon -- therefore, he could be charged with "felony murder" even though his good friend -- and not Bone -- was killed.