“Violent groups often take actions to gain legitimacy in order to gain support from civilians living under their rule as well as potential supporters abroad,” University of Maryland political scientist Jori Breslawski wrote.
Four people were killed in the Angeles National Forest by members of the Fulton clique wielding machetes, baseball bats and knives, the indictment alleges. Along with a slaying in the Malibu hills and another in Whitsett Fields Park in North Hollywood — the clique’s “stronghold,” prosecutors said — the six killings were committed by gang members hoping to gain entry into or advance within the clique’s ranks, according to the indictment.
The attack came after suspected gang members killed two police officers and three soldiers over the weekend. All were off-duty when they were attacked. Some were playing sports.
Officers with the New York Police Department—by far the nation's largest metropolitan police agency—have been told that they may be targets of one of the nation's most notorious gangs, particularly while off duty.
Gangs are a serious problem negatively impacting American culture. And the rise of gang activity as evidenced by the rash of shootings we've seen in major metropolitan areas like Chicago and elsewhere is increasingly threatening the very safety and security of both law enforcement officers and the communities we serve, nationwide.
MS-13 has directed its members to "take out a cop" in a directive that has police on high alert across the New York area, according to a new memo.
President Trump on Thursday lambasted California officials for how they are dealing with gangs and threatened to pull immigration and border agents out of the state to show just how bad things would be without federal help.
"Every drop of blood spilled by the men and women in blue is a wound on our nation," Trump said and he drew cheers from the audience when he said anyone killing a law enforcement officer should get the death penalty.
"Operation Raging Bull" was led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with support from multiple agencies to target and dismantle MS-13. It culminated in 267 arrests in the U.S. and overseas.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday formally designated the criminal gang MS-13 as a priority for federal law enforcement, vowing to use agencies ranging from the FBI to Homeland Security and the IRS to dismantle it.