Gang Activities

The association between gangs and the violence and looting is unclear. On May 13, three suspects associated with the 8-Trey Gangster Crips were arrested for beating Reginald Denney at the onset of the riot. Witnesses claim that the suspects were also responsible for additional assaults that occurred in the immediate area. Other attacks in Florence and Normandy area also occurred on this gang's turf and may have been committed by a small number of individuals (San Francisco Chronicle, May 29, 1992). The gang may have been involved with ambushing a police car that resulted in three officers receiving minor gun shot wounds (Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1992b). (However, parents, neighbors and friends of at least one of those arrested for the Denney beating claim that he was not a "Gangster" and not involved in the beatings (Sacramento Bee, November 22, 1992)). The Los Angeles Times reported that the Venice Shore Line Crips have been accused of robbing a Korean stereo store and of beating an occupant (Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1992). Some gang members, after hearing the Rodney King verdict, apparently got into their cars and roamed around their turf. One gang member described their activities as follows: So we were watching it on the news. And all the homies, we start meeting up and riding around, going down Crenshaw and stuff, you know. Just riding around. ... And the homies, they went out looting and stuff (Los Angeles Times, May I 1, 1992) It may turn out that gangs simply took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself. This role would be similar to that found by the Governor's Commission in their conclusion on the 1965 Watts Riot: [Gangs or other local groups did not start or direct the riots.] This is not to say that there was no agitation or promotion of the rioting by local groups or gangs which exist in pockets throughout the south central area. The sudden appearance of Molotov cocktails in quantity and the unexplained movement of men in cars through the areas of great destruction support the conclusion that there was organization and planning after the riots started. (Commission, 1965, p. 22.) According to police reports, gang related violence ceased on Thursday night. They went onto other gang's turf to loot but did not shoot at each other. Mexican and black gangs worked together in the same neighborhoods. No gang or gang related killings were known to have occurred through Friday (Sacramento Bee, May 1, 1992). The deployment of the National Guard that night made it possible to effectively control the streets, aiding the reduction of violence (Los Angeles Times, May 6, 1992c). Occupants of a car shot at firemen on a fire truck, severely wounding one, as they both drove down the street (Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1992). The attack resembled a gang drive by shooting.

Medical Care for the Injured

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