The Byrd Gang also known as the Piff Gang, is a criminal organization located in
. Detectives with
New Orleans Police Department
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has primary responsibility for law enforcement in New Orleans, Louisiana. The department's jurisdiction covers all of Orleans Parish, while the city is divided into eight police districts.
The NOPD has a ...
's Multi-Agency Gang unit previously described the Byrd Gang as "one of the most murderous gangs in town." The gang have a long history of violence which has made them gain notoriety among other gangs in the city.
History
The Byrd Gang originated from the former C.J. Peete public housing development, known as
Magnolia Projects
The Magnolia Projects, officially the C. J. Peete Public Housing Development, was one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans. As part of the ongoing redevelopment, the area has been renamed Harmony Oaks. The project was among the largest, hous ...
, an infamous housing projects in
Central City
In urban planning, a core city, principal city metropolitan core, or central city, is the largest or most important city or cities of a metropolitan area. A core city is surrounded by smaller satellite cities, towns, and suburbs. A central city i ...
. For years the gang have feuded with the 3-N-G gang and clashed with them during the 2009
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
parade where seven people were shot, including a baby. The shooting made national headlines in the news and brought the gang to the attention of the FBI. In 2017, members of the gang were involved in a violent broad daylight shootout on
Magazine Street
Magazine Street is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. Like Tchoupitoulas Street, St. Charles Avenue, and Claiborne Avenue, it follows the curving course of the Mississippi River. The street took its name from an ammunition magazine ...
that left two men wounded.
In November of 2020 6 members of the Byrd Gang were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and murder for fatally shooting a woman from Grass Valley, California after they attempted to purchase 30 pounds of marijuana from the woman with fake money and then attempted to flee. The woman and another person began to chase the Byrd Gang members. One of the members then pulled out his pistol and shot the woman in the head.
Later in April 2019, 2 members would be arrested for retaliation to the injustice murder of Torrence Allen.
Indictments
In March 2018, three members of the Byrd Gang were indicted by a grand jury, charged with multiple counts of distributing heroin.
In August of 2021, several members of the gang were indicted by the
under charges of murder, racketeering, drug trafficking and
RICO
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.
RICO was en ...
as well as other associated crimes.
See also
*
List of New Orleans gangs
Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans gangs tended to be small violent local groups divided among its 17 voting districts known as "wards".
NOPD classified these groups as drug organizations or "cliques," with about 10-15 members.
The most infamou ...
References
{{reflist
Organizations established in the 2000s
2000s establishments in Louisiana
African-American gangs
Gangs in New Orleans