What are gangs? A gang is simply a group of individuals who identify with or claim territory over a community, and usually engage in illegal or violent behavior. The acts of illegal activity or violence consist mainly of felonies, but can include misdemeanors as well. There are several types of gang groups such as street gangs, prison gangs, and motorcycle gangs. The types of gang that will be discussed throughout this essay are street gangs. Gang members are typically linked to a name, symbol, or color scheme to distinguish themselves from other gangs and to identify allies and enemies. Both males and females are involved in gangs and the age groups can range from 11 years old to adulthood. Street gangs became popular in the United States in 1783, after the American Revolution. However, some suggest more serious street gangs likely did not emerge until the early part of the nineteenth century. During the 1960’s gangs began to flourish in large cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York due to immigration and the growth of population. Some of …show more content…
In May 2014, members of the Sex Money Murder gang, a subsidiary of the Bloods, entered a home and wounded four individuals and shot and killed innocent 9-month-old baby boy, KenDarious Edwards Jr.. Edwards was found in a bathtub and had been shot three times. According to the mother of Edwards, the gunmen kicked in the bathroom door and shot her son in the chest, arm and stomach. The members of the gang were arrested about a month after the murder occurred. The members arrested were the shooter, and the ring leader Kenneth Eric Jackson who was in a Georgia state prison at the time of the murder. Jackson had a cellphone smuggled into the prison and ordered the murder of baby Edwards, Jr. due to “inner-gang retaliation” because the baby’s uncle had killed a fellow gang member without permission (Sauls,