Loyalist paramilitary boss Johnny Adair's son is to be questioned by detectives about the punishment shooting which left him wounded in both legs.
A security source confirmed police would be interviewing Jonathan Adair, 17, in a bid to find out who shot him.
"He will be questioned but we don't expect him to co-operate," he said.
Police believe the shooting was sanctioned by the leadership of his father's Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).
Adair's son was treated for flesh wounds after being shot in both legs in the lower Shankill area of Belfast. He was taken to a nearby hospital but discharged himself hours later.
No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack but security sources were in no doubt the UFF was involved.
Police investigating the shooting on Wednesday night are understood to be linking it to an incident at a petrol station in the Shankill area.
A girl working in the garage was headbutted after she spotted a shoplifter and tried to intervene.
Sources indicating it was not the first time Adair’s son had been taken to task about his behaviour. "He has gone through the hierarchy of beatings," one said. "He was done for indiscretions when his father was still inside."
PA