The Grove Street Families was the primary set of The Families, one of the oldest gangs in Los Angeles and southern California. The GSF gang mostly followed traditional codes, refusing to traffic narcotics. However, the gang was still very powerful, engaging in gun violence, arms trafficking, robbery, home invasion, vandalism, carjacking, and burglary, and the GSF formed a rivalry with the Ballas gang of Echo Park and Watts and the Vagos gang of East Los Angeles. From 1987 to 1992, the GSF was on the losing end of a war with the rival Ballas gang, but Carl Johnson's return from New York City and his involvement in the gang war led to the GSF striking back against the Ballas and treacherous elements within the GSF, killing treacherous OGs Ryder Wilson and Big Smoke. Following the end of the Los Angeles Riots in May 1992, the GSF expanded to take over all the gang territories of Los Angeles, becoming the most powerful gang. Unfortunately, divisions within the gang led to another resurgence of the Ballas and Vagos, and Grove Street was under Ballas control by 2013.
Gallery
