Founded | 1969 |
---|---|
Founder | Sylvester Puddin Scott, Vincent Benson Owens |
Founding location | Compton and West Rancho Dominguez, California, United States |
Years active | 1969–present |
Ethnicity | Primarily African American. |
Activities | Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion and murder |
Allies | Bloods[1] |
Rivals | Crips[1] |
The Pirus are a subset of the larger Bloods gang alliance, an organized crime group in the United States.[2]
The name "Piru" is derived from the Piru Street Boys, a gang which was founded in 1969 by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens in Compton.[3] The Piru Street Boys are considered the forerunners to the Bloods,[4] which is why the terms "Piru" and "Blood" are often used interchangeably. However, this interchangeable use of the terms is inaccurate,[5] as many non-Piru gangs such as the Denver Lanes and Brims were also instrumental in the formation of the Bloods.[6]
Furthermore, the Pirus have been described as an alliance of street gangs within the larger Bloods alliance,[2] meaning that not all Bloods sets will identify as "Pirus".
In 1969, a gang called the Piru Street Boys was founded by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens. According to some sources, the Piru Street Boys were initially associated with the Crips,[7] but later had a falling out. However, other sources dispute any alliance, claiming that the Piru Street Boys were victimised by the Crips.[8] Nevertheless, by 1972, the Piru Street Boys formed an alliance with other smaller street gangs such as the Brims, Bishops and Denver Lanes, which also opposed the Crips.[9] This alliance became known as the Bloods, as the members of this alliance called each other "blood".[9]
Eventually, more Piru sets would form. There are 15 known Piru sets within the Greater Los Angeles area.[10] Piru sets have fought against each other. For example, the alleged shooter of Biggie Smalls, a Mob Piru named Wardell Fouse, was reportedly killed by members of the Fruit Town Piru in 2003.[11]