Tag: Gang

Wimpy proved his tough guy status as a tail gunner on a B-29 during WWII. Martorano called Wimpy “the Fox.” Martorano said Wimpy spoke with his hand to his mouth so nobody could read his lips. “He was continually looking for an edge.” He said he was “a treacherous old-t...

Although South London has a long history, it is also well-known for its turbulent past, especially in terms of gang violence. The area has experienced multiple violent gang conflicts throughout the years that have destroyed entire neighborhoods and decimated entire families. This 2000 word synopsis ...

East L.A. in the early 90s: Gangsta’ rap infiltrated the airwaves and the War on Drugs was in full swing. While the rest of the country watched the Rodney King riots on TV, young Angelenos saw themselves being simultaneously celebrated and vilified on the national stage. Pop ...

In1988, Los Angeles was in hysterics over the mounting visibility of its homegrown street gangs. Public shootouts and innocent victims in affluent neighborhoods were making national headlines, and all of a sudden local gangs hailing from discrete pockets of South Central and East L.A. were comi...

I lay prone, propped up on my elbows, looking out the back of a 1970-something Ford station wagon, tailgate down, clutching a Nikon to my face while being driven fast through the Third Street tunnel underneath Bunker Hill in Downtown LA. Two battery-powered flash units gaffer-taped to the roof of th...

I was somewhat hesitant to cover this topic, as I prefer to share stories and places by trying to positively inspire and motivate others to visit them. I told myself, however, that traveling also involves risks, and it is good to be aware of them. That said, this is not an invitation not to visit Ri...

The bloody gang war between the 37th Street and Simple City neighborhoods in Washington D.C. has claimed dozens of young lives over the past decade. The adjacent neighborhoods, located just miles from the White House, were once thriving working-class communities built in the early 20th century. B...

Iknew something was wrong the second I heard Willie Beard’s voice. For one thing, he was calling the landline; he’d never done that. For another, I’d gotten to know him over the past several months, and the dude was almost 100 percent night owl, but now he was reaching out on a Sun...