Hispanic children ride their bikes along Normandie Street and Wilshire Boulevard August 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The area was first controlled by the 18th Street and Mara Salvatrucha-13 hispanic street gangs in the early 1980's. The gangs were formed by refugees from El Salvador who fled their country's violent civil war and settled in Los Angeles in the early 1980's. The gangs formed for protection against the established Mexican street gangs.

Two Los Angeles police officers question a known Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang member August 3, 2006 in the Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The area is known for it's violent Hispanic gang presence and it's illegal drug trade. Wilshire and the adjacent Rampart police station have close to 30 hispanic street gangs with some gangs controlling no more than 4-6 square blocks. Gangs compete for the lucrative drug trade with the majority of the profits going to the Mexican mafia.

Hispanic residents of the Rampart neighborhood stop at the corner of 6th Street and Wilshire Boulevard, the main commercial district of the neighborhood August 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The area is known for it's violent Hispanic gangs and a flourishing drug trade. Borders between rival gangs can be single streets or long back alleyways. The 18th Street gang claims to be the dominant Salvadoran street gang having established itself in the early 1980's to protect the newly arrived Salvadoran immigrants from stronger Mexican gangs. MS-13, it's Salvadoran and Los Angeles rival, has spread its organization across to the East Coast.

With two 18th Street gang members in custody, a Los Angeles police gang officer chases a third member of the gang into a nearby shop August 4, 2006 in the Rampart area in Los Angeles, California. The three Hispanic gang members were taken into custody after they were seen in violation of a city injunction which prohibits gang members congregating in specific public areas.

With two 18th Street gang members detained, a Los Angeles police gang officer catches a third member of the gang suspected to have a gun August 4, 2006 in the Rampart area in Los Angeles, California.

With three 18th Street gang members detained, a Los Angeles gang unit officer checks a tattoo August 4, 2006 in the Rampart area in Los Angeles, California. The three Hispanic gang members were taken into custody in violation of a city injunction prohibiting known gang members from congregating in specific public areas.

A member of the Diamond Street gang known as "Lumpy" exits his car after being pulled over by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department gang unit August 4, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. Lumpy is a known drug dealer. He was driving a new 4-door Lexus, an unusual car for the Rampart neighborhood, with marijuana smoke flowing from the windows. Police were about to issue a citation for marijuana possession when another gang policeman uncovered 3 ounces of pure crack cocaine with a value over $5000 hidden behind the rear seat. All three were put under arrest with a felony possession charge. The Diamond Street gang is one of the oldest Hispanic gangs in Los Angeles.

A 3 ounce bag of crack cocaine lies on top of a vehicle pulled over by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department gang unit August 4, 2006 in the Rampart neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The vehicle's driver is a veteran gang member and a known drug dealer. The crack cocaine, hidden behind the rear seat, has a street value of over $5000.

A Hispanic member of the Diamond Street gang and two passengers are searched after being pulled over by the Los Angeles Police Department gang unit in the Rampart neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Police uncovered 3 ounces of crack cocaine with a street value over $5000 hidden behind the rear seat. All three were charged with a felony possession charge.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department gang unit aim their pistols at a stolen car stopped with 6 possibly armed Hispanic youths after a three mile chase August 4, 2006 near the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. A police helicopter hovered above with a spotlight. One of the youths threw a 9mm pistol from the car during the chase. In the Rampart area, over 25 Hispanic street gangs compete for the drug trade with the majority controlled by the Mexican mafia.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers aim their guns at a stolen car stopped with 6 possibly armed Hispanic youths after a three mile chase August 4, 2006 near the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. One of the youths threw a 9mm pistol from the car during the chase. The six youths are part of a tagging gang, groups that paint gang graffiti on walls and buildings and are eventually recruited into organized street gangs. All six were arrested and taken into custody.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department gang unit question two of six Hispanic youths who had fled in a stolen car after a three mile chase August 4, 2006 near the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. A police helicopter hovered above with a spotlight.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers question a Hispanic street gang member in whose back pack police found a loaded 9mm pistol August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The gang member was arrested and taken into custody for weapons possession. He was later found to be carrying narcotics hidden in the seams of his pants.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers question a Hispanic street gang member in whose back pack police found a loaded 9mm pistol August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The gang member was arrested and taken into custody for weapons possession. He was later found to be carrying narcotics hidden in the seams of his pants.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers question a known Hispanic gang member in whose back pack police found a loaded 9mm pistol August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The gang member was arrested and taken into custody for weapons possession. He was later found to be carrying narcotics hidden in the seams of his pants.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers examine a printout of suspects arrested in a Hispanic gang shooting outside a bar the previous night August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. Gang members from Mara Salvatrucha 13 or MS-13 shot two of the bar's security guards over a dispute.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers stop and frisk a known 18th Street gang member August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The 18th Street gang was formed in LA in the early 1980's by refugees fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. Over 25 Hispanic street gangs compete in the Rampart district for the drug trade with much of it controlled by the Mexican mafia.

Los Angeles Police Department gang unit officers stop and frisk a known 18th Street gang member August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The 18th Street gang was formed in LA in the early 1980's by refugees fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. Over 25 Hispanic street gangs compete in the Rampart district for the drug trade with much of it controlled by the Mexican mafia.

Emergency rescue squad medics from the Los Angeles Fire Department treat three South Asian men stabbed outside a convenience store August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The assailant, believed to be a male Hispanic, stabbed the three after stealing one of the victim's cell phone leaving two of the victims with serious wounds.

Emergency rescue squad medics from the Los Angeles Fire Department treat three South Asian men stabbed outside a convenience store August 5, 2006 in the Rampart district of Los Angeles, California. The assailant, believed to be a male Hispanic, stabbed the three after stealing one of the victim's cell phone leaving two of the victims with serious wounds.