Latino Gang Wars Descend on Oakland
Latino Gangs Behind Rising Oakland Murder Rate?
Joe Vazquez
Reporting
(CBS 5) OAKLAND
30 people have been killed in Oakland so far this year. That's triple the number at this time last year. Oakland police say one major factor in the rising homicide rate is violence among Latinos -- in fact, one in three murders so far have involved Latino gangs.
CBS 5 spent three nights on the streets of Oakland and got an inside look at what may be provoking a significant part of the deadly violence.
It's red versus blue. The Nortenos gang -- who wear red -- is angry about an influx of blue Surenos.
"If you're Mexican, and you live in Oakland, you are living in the danger zone," said one person CBS 5 spoke with.
"Right now, we've seen a really big spike in Latino gangs," said Oakland police Sgt. Fred Mestas. "There's a huge problem with the folks coming over the border and pushing folks who have historically been in the Los Angeles area up north."
Mestas leads the Oakland Police Department's gang unit.
"They're already predisposed to gang lifestyle, but now they're moving into the Bay Area, so we've got entire groups clashing over whether it's a red or blue color that they're claiming," Mestas said.
Another person CBS 5 spoke to made mention of "out-of-towners" who are "violating us."
"You can't come from out of town and disrespect Oakland, none of that," said one person who did not want to be named. "There's a consequence to that."
Police say another factor is that with so many Latinos moving in, they are occupying neighborhoods that have traditionally been African American.
There is no defined territory belonging to the Nortenos or Surenos, according to police. Instead, gang members drive around in cars, literally hunting rival gang members.
It ain't going to stop," said one person CBS 5 spoke with. "OPD talking about extra cops -- they scared, too."
Joe Vazquez
Reporting
(CBS 5) OAKLAND
30 people have been killed in Oakland so far this year. That's triple the number at this time last year. Oakland police say one major factor in the rising homicide rate is violence among Latinos -- in fact, one in three murders so far have involved Latino gangs.
CBS 5 spent three nights on the streets of Oakland and got an inside look at what may be provoking a significant part of the deadly violence.
It's red versus blue. The Nortenos gang -- who wear red -- is angry about an influx of blue Surenos.
"If you're Mexican, and you live in Oakland, you are living in the danger zone," said one person CBS 5 spoke with.
"Right now, we've seen a really big spike in Latino gangs," said Oakland police Sgt. Fred Mestas. "There's a huge problem with the folks coming over the border and pushing folks who have historically been in the Los Angeles area up north."
Mestas leads the Oakland Police Department's gang unit.
"They're already predisposed to gang lifestyle, but now they're moving into the Bay Area, so we've got entire groups clashing over whether it's a red or blue color that they're claiming," Mestas said.
Another person CBS 5 spoke to made mention of "out-of-towners" who are "violating us."
"You can't come from out of town and disrespect Oakland, none of that," said one person who did not want to be named. "There's a consequence to that."
Police say another factor is that with so many Latinos moving in, they are occupying neighborhoods that have traditionally been African American.
There is no defined territory belonging to the Nortenos or Surenos, according to police. Instead, gang members drive around in cars, literally hunting rival gang members.
It ain't going to stop," said one person CBS 5 spoke with. "OPD talking about extra cops -- they scared, too."
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