Pirus

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Street gang alliance in Los Angeles

title: "Pirus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["organizations-established-in-1969", "1969-establishments-in-california", "bloods-sets", "african-american-history-in-los-angeles", "compton,-california"] description: "Street gang alliance in Los Angeles" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Street gang alliance in Los Angeles ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox criminal organization"]

FieldValue
namePirus
imageFile:A1 PiRU.jpeg
image_size
captionPiru graffiti
founded
founderSylvester Puddin Scott, Vincent Benson Owens
founding_locationCompton, California, United States
years_active1969–present
territory
ethnicityPrimarily Black American
activitiesDrug trafficking, robbery, extortion and murder
alliesBloods
Juggalos
rivalsCrips
::

| name = Pirus | image = File:A1 PiRU.jpeg | image_size = | caption = Piru graffiti | founded = | founder = Sylvester Puddin Scott, Vincent Benson Owens | named_after = | founding_location = Compton, California, United States | years_active = 1969–present | territory = | ethnicity = Primarily Black American | membership = | leaders = | activities = Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion and murder | allies = Bloods Juggalos | rivals = Crips | notable_members =

The Pirus () are a subset of the larger Bloods gang alliance, an organized crime group in the United States.

In the early 1960s, the Los Angeles, California area was filled with street gangs fighting for power. At that time, the Crips, founded by Raymond Washington and Stanley "Tookie" Williams, were rapidly growing in influence. They expanded quickly, pressuring smaller gangs to either join them or submit.

A group of young African Americans from Compton and nearby areas felt threatened by the Crips' dominance. They refused to submit, and eventually formed their own gang as the main rival to the Crips. From there, the Pirus were born, who later became part of the larger group known as the Bloods.

The name Piru itself came from Piru Street in Compton, where the group was first established. Young men from Piru Street decided to fight back against the Crips, then allied with other smaller gangs who also refused to be oppressed. They agreed to wear red as their symbol, in opposition to the blue worn by the Crips.

Over time, the violence between the Crips and the Bloods (with the Pirus included) became increasingly brutal. Gang wars erupted in the streets of Los Angeles, escalating from simple fights to shootings, murders, and territorial battles.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the conflict grew even larger with the rise of drug trafficking, especially crack cocaine. Many young members were recruited straight from the streets, often teenagers growing up in harsh environments with few options.

The Pirus and Bloods had their own codes, body language, and symbols. They also became well known for their hand signs and graffiti used to mark territory. While they were strongly associated with criminal activity, for some members, joining the gang was also seen as a form of "family" or protection from the tough streets of Los Angeles.

To this day, even though the government and law enforcement have carried out many operations to stop gang violence, the name Bloods/Pirus remains deeply embedded as one of the most infamous and influential street gangs in America, especially in the history of gang wars in Los Angeles.

History

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, but later had a falling-out. However, other sources dispute any alliance, claiming that the Piru Street Boys were victimised by the Crips. Nevertheless, by the early 1970s, 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. This alliance became known as the Bloods, as the members of this alliance called each other "blood".

Eventually, more Piru sets would form. There are 15 known Piru sets within the Greater Los Angeles area. Piru sets have fought against each other. For example, the Mob Piru and Fruit Town Piru developed a rivalry by the late 1990s, which resulted in the murders of several Mob Pirus associated with Death Row Records.

The Piru Street Boys are considered the forerunners to the Bloods, which is why the terms "Piru" and "Blood" are often used interchangeably. However, this interchangeable use of the terms is inaccurate, as many non-Piru gangs such as the Denver Lanes and Brims were also instrumental in the formation of the Bloods.

Furthermore, the Pirus are an alliance of street gangs within the larger Bloods alliance, meaning that not all Bloods sets will identify as "Pirus".[[File:Red bandana.jpg|thumb|Piru sets often use burgundy or red [[Kerchief|bandanas]] as a form of identification, although other colors may be used to evade detection from law enforcement ]]

Piru sets

In popular culture

References

References

  1. [https://info.publicintelligence.net/BloodsStreetGangIntelligenceReport.pdf Bloods Street Gang Intelligence Report] [[Virginia State Police]] (November 2008)
  2. (2010-04-06). "Pirus".
  3. Covey, Herbert C.. (2015). "Crips and Bloods : a guide to an American subculture".
  4. Cawthorne, Nigel. (2010). "The World's Most Evil Gangsters". John Blake.
  5. Flores, R. D.. (October 1997). "Crips and Bloods".
  6. "Bloods Street Gang Intelligence Report". Commonwealth of Virginia Department of State Police.
  7. (2010-04-06). "Pirus".
  8. Phillips, Chuck. (August 1, 2003). "As Associates Fall, Is 'Suge' Next?".
  9. Carlin, Michael Douglas. (6 November 2019). "Piru Origins, Precursor to the Bloods".
  10. "Piru Meaning & Origin {{!}} Slang by Dictionary.com".
  11. Gann, Brian. (9 June 2011). "The Bloods (1972 - ) •".
  12. Finley, Laura L.. (2018). "Gangland: An Encyclopedia of Gang Life from Cradle to Grave [2 Volumes]". ABC-CLIO.
  13. Lee, Chris. (June 25, 2008). "The Game gets back to roots".
  14. (January 19, 2018). "Rap's Main Street: The music of Rosecrans Avenue".

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organizations-established-in-19691969-establishments-in-californiabloods-setsafrican-american-history-in-los-angelescompton,-california