Gang-Related News Articles

California
Teen held in killing at party (Citrus Heights, CA): Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man at a party in Citrus Heights, authorities said. After an argument broke out, the victim was shot by someone in an SUV that had pulled up in front of the home. It has yet to be determined if the shooting was gang related or not.
Source: The Sacramento Bee    Date: October 2, 2003

California
Freeway shooting (National City, CA): In a possible gang-related attack, a 23-year-old man was wounded while driving on Interstate 5 in National City, officials said. The victim was first approached by two men at a gas station when they asked him what gang he belonged to. As the victim later headed south on Interstate 5, the two men drove up to him in another vehicle and opened fire. The man was treated for a single shot wound. No arrests have been made.
Source: City News Service    Date: October 2, 2003

Illinois
Cartels linked to gangs in suburbs (Aurora, IL): Two men were arrested after police received a random tip leading to the biggest drug bust in Aurora history. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have teamed up with local investigators in Aurora and elsewhere to set up stings to arrest drug traffickers in hopes that it could lead them to Mexican cartel bosses. In the last three years, the stings have led to the arrests of more than 100 gang members and associates on federal charges of drug trafficking, weapons possession, and other crimes. Although Chicago has been long monitored as a trading post for Mexican drug cartels, over the past five years, area suburbs such as Aurora, Addison, Elgin, and Glendale Heights have sparked investigators' interest. Violence between cartel-connected street gangs have caused an increase in homicides in the state. Last year, Aurora had 25 homicides, pushing the murder rate (killings per 100,000) to more than four times the national average. So far this year, Aurora has had 13 killings.
Source: Chicago Tribune    Date: October 2, 2003

Florida
Brewing Glades Central fight leads to ten arrests (Belle Glade, FL): Ten students from rival groups at Glades Central High School were arrested for attempting to start a fight. A boy who shoved the assistant principal was charged with battery on a school district employee, and others were charged with inciting a riot. In addition, all have been suspended and are being processed for expulsion from school. In another incident, a 19-year-old man was arrested in September when, according to deputies, he stabbed three other young men at a junior varsity football game between Glades Central and Pahokee High. Several authorities believe the recent fighting is gang-related and is a series of retaliations.
Source: The Palm Beach Post    Date: October 2, 2003

Texas
West Side drive-by shooting hurts four (San Antonio, TX): Four people were injured in what appears to be a gang-related, drive-by shooting on the West Side. According to witnesses and the victims, a group of people were talking in the front yard of a house when an SUV pulled up, and the driver and two passengers began yelling "RPK!" which, according to police, stands for Rosedale Park Kings. Shots were fired, and the suspects sped off. No arrests have been made.
Source: San Antonio Express-News    Date: October 2, 2003

Virginia
Funds to help fight gangs (Richmond, VA): Virginia's attorney general announced that Richmond will receive $2.5 million in federal funds over the next three years to help fight gang violence. The grant is being funded by the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in response to the state's relatively high rates of crime and gang activity. Richmond is one of four cities in the United States receiving such a grant.
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch    Date: October 2, 2003

California
Gang injunctions (Los Angeles, CA): A Los Angeles judge granted a city attorney's request for preliminary injunctions against the Bounty Hunters, the gang blamed for repeated "assaults, robberies, and gunfire" in Watts. There were also court orders against the Rolling 60s Crips, who allegedly have caused havoc in Hyde Park. The preliminary injunction against the Bounty Hunters includes a ban on associating in public with other members, loitering, blocking traffic, and gambling in and around the Nickerson Gardens Public Housing Development. The order against the Rolling 60s Crips bars certain members from driving into rival turf. The injunction also prohibits two or more gang members in one vehicle from entering a neighborhood claimed by any of five named rivals: The Van Ness Gangsters, the Eight Trey Gangsters, the Crenshaw Mafia, the Inglewood Family, and the 62 Brims.
Source: City News Service    Date: October 1, 2003

New Jersey
Three hurt in Englewood gang attack (Englewood, NJ): Three men were wounded after they were attacked in an alleged gang-related incident. The victims, ages 19, 21, and 24, were walking down the street when they were approached by two men who asked if they belonged to the Bloods gang. When they said they were not members, as many as eight other men approached, and a fight ensued.
Source: The Record    Date: October 1, 2003

California
Police seek shooters who opened fire on home (San Diego, CA): Authorities are searching for two possible gang members who wounded two girls, ages 10 and 13, while they slept in their Linda Vista home. The shooting was believed to have stemmed from an earlier gang dispute, police said. "The girls were not involved in the incident, but a friend or relative may have been," an officer said. "It's believed that the girls were not the intended targets." No arrests have been made.
Source: City News Service    Date: September 30, 2003

California
West County shootings may be related (West County, CA): A series of retaliatory shootings between rival neighborhood factions left two dead and at least two injured in West County, police said. Police believe the shootings are gang related, but details have been scarce.
Source: Contra Costa Times    Date: September 30, 2003

California
Taft shooting suspects face multiple counts (Woodland Hills, CA): Two gang suspects may face life sentences if they are convicted for the September 9 drive-by shooting near Taft High School in which three students were wounded. Both 20-year-old men are charged with four counts each of attempted premeditated murder and one count each of aggravated mayhem causing great bodily injury.
Source: The Daily News of Los Angeles    Date: September 30, 2003

California
Drive-by shooting into home kills infant and wounds father (San Francisco, CA): A drive-by shooting in a San Francisco neighborhood left a two-month-old boy dead and his father in serious condition, police said. "The father was letting someone out of the house when the shooting began. The father runs back to the house, shuts the door, and a bullet went through the front door and ricocheted off what we believe was a wall and hit the baby," a police spokesman said. The motive of the shooting was unknown.
Source: San Jose Mercury News    Date: September 30, 2003

California
Shots fired during teen confrontation (San Diego, CA): Police say that a confrontation among teens armed with guns and baseball bats may have been gang-related. The tussle began when two boys, ages 14 and 16, got into an argument with two other teens, police said. Shots were fired during the incident, but no one was injured. No arrests have been made.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune    Date: September 30, 2003

California
Three more arrested in Mission Bay Park killing (San Diego, CA): Police have arrested three more gang members in connection with a shooting on Father's Day in Mission Bay Park, bringing the total number to nine people arrested in the slaying. The three men, ages 18, 20, and 27, were booked on suspicion of murdering a 23-year-old man in what police say was a confrontation between rival gangs. Police say more arrests are expected as 20 or so gang members were fighting before the shooting took place.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune    Date: September 30, 2003

New York
Teen dies in cyberbrawl (Brooklyn, NY): A brawl that broke out at Y&Z Computer, an Internet cafe in Sunset Park, left a 16-year-boy dead and two other boys, ages 15 and 16, wounded, police said. Two boys were in the cafe when five attackers came in and ambushed them. The two retaliated with knives, and the fight moved outside. One victim died from a stab wound, and the other two victims suffered non-life-threatening wounds. It is unclear if the attack was gang related.
Source: Daily News    Date: September 30, 2003

Indiana
Gang summits work to bring peace to streets (Indianapolis, IN): Community activists are working with law enforcement officials to set up a series of meetings between rival Indianapolis street gangs in hopes of reducing violence in the city. At the first meeting, about 65 gang members met with activists and high-ranking law enforcement officials to discuss feuds between gangs on the Eastside and Westside. Currently, the largest three gangs in Indianapolis are the Black Gangsta Disciples, the Vice Lords, and the Latin Kings, police and community leaders say. In addition, authorities are having to deal with groups called "crews," which are often part of gangs but sometimes independent. Indianapolis crews typically have around 20 to 25 members and are usually involved in drug trade, officials said. They include the 25th Street Hood Boys, the 34th Street Baby Boys, and Post Road.
Source: The Indianapolis Star    Date: September 30, 2003

New Mexico
Inmate stabbed as cell opened (Albuquerque, NM): An inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center is accused of stabbing another inmate when a corrections officer accidentally opened a jail cell. The 31-year-old man was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Corrections officials believe the attack may be gang related.
Source: The Albuquerque Tribune    Date: September 30, 2003

Maryland
Man dies at hospital after drive-by shooting (Baltimore, MD): A 22-year-old man died at a hospital after being shot during a drive-by shooting in northwest Baltimore. The man was shot when someone in a passing car fired at least one shot. Police found him lying in a street when they arrived. No further information was available.
Source: The Baltimore Sun    Date: September 29, 2003

Arizona
Shootout between gangs at party sends four to hospital (Glendale, AZ): Glendale police are searching for gunmen involved in a shoot-out between rival gangs at a birthday party that left four men hospitalized. About 100 people were standing in the street when the gunfight took place, and about 100 shell casings and shotgun pellets were left at the scene. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening.
Source: The Associated Press State & Local Wire    Date: September 29, 2003

Nebraska
Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, state get federal funds (Omaha, NE): Omaha Public Schools will receive $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education to expand and enhance the district's Smaller Learning Community Project. In addition, the U.S. Justice Department granted $225,000 to the city for its North Omaha Weed and Seed project, a program to reduce drug use, gang activity, and street violence. A $761,000 Justice Department grant will also go to the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice aimed at helping combat juvenile crime and gang activity.
Source: The Associated Press State & Local Wire    Date: September 29, 2003