The Tree Top Piru (also known as the Tree Top Piru Bloods) are a "set" of the Piru gang alliance, which is itself a part of the larger

Bloods The Bloods are a primarily African-American street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. It is identified by the red color worn by its members and by particular gang symbols, inclu ...

gang alliance. The gang started in Compton, California in the 1970s, but has since spread to other parts of the United States.

History

Formation

The Tree Top Piru formed in Compton, California in the 1970s. The gang was named after the various streets in their territory which are named after trees including Acacia Street, Poplar Street, and Maple Street. Eventually, the Tree Top Piru would spread to other parts of the United States, including

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...

Tree Top Piru in Baltimore

In 2007, a high-ranking female member of the Tree Top Piru in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

named Michelle Hebron killed David Leonard Moore, who Hebron believed to be a rival gang member. After killing Moore, Hebron wrote a poem, which was used as evidence in her trial:

"I guess just shot a nigga in the head cause he wear blue but claim red. Plus I just wanted the satisfaction of seeing a nigga dead."

Hebron was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder and

racketeering Racketeering is a type of organized crime in which the perpetrators set up a coercive, fraudulent, extortionary, or otherwise illegal coordinated scheme or operation (a "racket") to repeatedly or consistently collect a profit. Originally and ...

Tree Top Piru in Texas

In January 2017, a Tree Top Piru member in

Houston Houston (; ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in Texas, the Southern United States#Major cities, most populous city in the Southern United States, the List of United States cities by population, fourth-most pop ...

named Javan Oxavia Williams shot dead Charlie Bennett Jr., who Williams had an argument with. Williams committed a second murder in February 2017, when he killed Tonius Wayne Frank and ransacked Frank's apartment. Williams was sentenced to life in prison for the two murders.

Depictions in media

* In the 1993 song "

Piru Love "Piru Love" is a song from the 1993 album ''Bangin' on Wax'' by the gangsta rap group Blood & Crips. It was subsequently released as a single, along with several alternate versions of the song. It is the group's most popular single. Compositio ...

" by

Bloods & Crips Bloods & Crips was an American gangsta rap group from Los Angeles County mostly known for their record selling song "Piru Love". History The success of N.W.A. had frustrated many in the gang community who saw the group capitalizing on the gan ...

, the Tree Top Piru is mentioned in the lines "Tree Top is to the left, Fruit Town is on the right." * In his 1994 song " Dollaz + Sense",

DJ Quik David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, K ...

, who was affiliated with the Tree Top Piru, refers to the gang when he says "West side trees sprayin' all the fleas".

References

{{Organized crime groups in Los Angeles Bloods sets Gangs in Los Angeles Gangs in Baltimore Compton, California