Raymond Washington was the original founder of the Crips, one of the most notorious and violent street gangs in Los Angeles. He was a charismatic and influential leader who formed the Crips as a minor street gang in the late 1960s, but later saw his influence and vision fade as the gang grew larger and more violent. He was killed in a drive-by shooting on August 9th, 1979, at the age of 25. His death remains unsolved to this day.
Early Life and Gang Formation
Raymond Lee Washington was born on August 14, 1953, in Los Angeles, California. He was the youngest of four sons to Violet Samuel and Reginald Washington. His parents separated when he was two years old, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather. He grew up on East 76th Street, between Wadsworth Avenue and Central Avenues in Los Angeles’ South Central
Washington developed an affinity for fist-fighting as an adolescent, and was constantly in trouble with the law for various offenses. He was also a bodybuilder who used his size to intimidate others. He had a strong aversion to guns, preferring to settle matters with his fists. He was repeatedly expelled from schools and sent to juvenile detention camps
In the late 1960s, Washington admired the Black Panthers and their attempt to bring social change through their militant positions. He sought to emulate their tactics, and eventually joined the Avenues street gang led by Craig Munson. However, he got into a fight with Munson’s brother, and decided to leave the gang to start his own group known as the Baby Avenues. The youthful aspect of the gang’s membership then led to their adopting the name the Avenue Cribs, which finally became the Crips
Washington’s tactics for expanding the influence and membership of the Crips primarily consisted of challenging the leaders of rival gangs to a fight, and upon defeating them inviting many members of the rival gangs to join the Crips. He also told rival gang members that if they refused to join the Crips, they would become the enemy and subject to attack. In 1971, Washington formed an alliance with Stanley “Tookie” Williams, establishing the Crips as the first major African-American street gang in Los Angeles, and served as one of the co-leaders
Decline and Death
By 1972, in the face of the growing influence of the Crips, several rival gangs, such as the Piru and Brims, began a loose partnership that evolved into the major Crips’ rival, the Bloods. The rivalry between the two gangs escalated into a bloody war that claimed hundreds of lives over the years. As the gang continued to expand with different branches being founded across California, the violence also began to focus less on hand-to-hand combat and more on firearms
Washington found himself becoming disillusioned with the gang that he founded and he started to spend time with a motorcycle group. He also found little success in establishing an agenda for social change within the Crips, as he had originally intended. In 1974, Washington was convicted of robbery and received a five-year prison sentence, during which his leadership and influence in the Crips declined. He was released from prison in early 1979
On August 9th, 1979, Raymond Washington was murdered in a drive-by shooting shortly after his release from prison. He was standing on a corner near his home when a car pulled up and someone inside opened fire at him. He was hit by a single bullet that pierced his heart. He was rushed to Morningside Hospital but succumbed to his wound. He was killed just five days before his 26th birthday. The identity of his killer or killers was never discovered, nor was the motive for his murder. Some speculated that it was a rival gang member, a disgruntled Crip member, or even a police officer who wanted him dead. His death remains unsolved to this day
Legacy
Raymond Washington is widely regarded as one of the most influential and notorious gang leaders in American history. He is credited with founding one of the largest and most violent street gangs in Los Angeles, which later spread across the country and even internationally. His name is often mentioned in rap songs, movies, books, and documentaries about gang culture and history.
However, Washington’s legacy is also controversial and tragic. He never achieved his original goal of creating a positive social movement for his community through his gang formation. Instead, he witnessed his gang become a source of terror, violence, and death for many people, including his own members and family. He also died a violent and premature death, leaving behind a wife and a son, Raymond Washington Jr., who later became a Crip member himself and was killed in 1998
Raymond Washington’s life and death are a reflection of the complex and contradictory realities of gang life in Los Angeles. He was a charismatic leader who inspired loyalty and respect among his followers, but also a ruthless fighter who instilled fear and hatred among his enemies. He was a visionary who wanted to make a difference in his community, but also a victim of the social and economic conditions that shaped his environment. He was a founder of the Crips, but also a casualty of the Crips.
References
1: Raymond Washington: Life and Times of the First Crip in History : Raymond Lee Washington (1953-1979) : Raymond Washington – Wikipedia : The Crips: The Story of the LA Street Gang from 1971-1985 : The Bloods: The Story of the LA Street Gang from 1972-1985 : Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap
