Cross Atlantic Piru

Full Name: Cross Atlantic Piru (CAP)
Also Known As: CAP, Cap Gang
Founded: 1970s
Founding Location: East Side Compton, California
Territory: East Compton and South Lynwood
Ethnicity: Predominantly African-American
Affiliation: Piru
Alliance: LAC Alliance (Lueders Park Piru, Cross Atlantic Piru, Cedar Block Piru)
Colors: Red, Burgundy, Maroon
Symbols: CAP, Cross Atlantic Piru
Notable Members: Frank “FG” Thornton, Donnie Ru,
Rappers: Avenue Champp, Double F, Bigg Tupp

Cross Atlantic Piru (CAP), sometimes referred to as the Cap Gang, is an African-American Piru street gang based on the East Side of Compton and in parts of neighboring Lynwood, California. The gang is part of the larger Piru umbrella and has operated along the Atlantic Avenue corridor for decades.

Cross Atlantic Piru is one of several Piru gangs on Compton’s east side and has been involved in long-standing conflicts with nearby Crip gangs and Hispanic street gangs in Compton, Lynwood, and Paramount.

History And Early Origins

Cross Atlantic Piru traces its roots to the East Side Piru neighborhoods that developed around Lueders Park during the 1970s. According to neighborhood accounts, the gang was originally known as Carlin Avenue Piru before later adopting the Cross Atlantic Piru name.

As Piru gangs expanded across East Compton during the 1970s and 1980s, Cross Atlantic Piru established itself along the Compton-Lynwood border and became one of several Piru sets operating on the city’s east side.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the gang became involved in the crack cocaine trade and the shootings, narcotics activity, and gang conflicts that affected many neighborhoods in Compton and Lynwood during that era. By the 2000s, members of the gang had become the focus of county and federal investigations involving narcotics trafficking, firearms violations, and gang-related shootings.

Territory

Cross Atlantic Piru claims territory along the Compton-Lynwood border centered around Atlantic Avenue and Rosecrans Avenue. Their neighborhood extends between Clark Street and the 710 Freeway and includes portions of both East Compton and South Lynwood.

Unlike many gangs whose identity is tied to a single city, Cross Atlantic Piru has historically operated in both Compton and Lynwood. Atlantic Avenue remains the center of the gang’s neighborhood.

A longtime gathering area associated with the gang has been the Atlantic Avenue corridor and portions of Lynwood near the Curv Motel, an area that has frequently appeared in gang and narcotics investigations.

Allies & Rivals

Cross Atlantic Piru is part of the LAC alliance, which consists of Lueders Park Piru, Cross Atlantic Piru, and Cedar Block Piru. The gang also maintains close ties with neighboring Piru sets, including Lime Hood Piru and Holly Hood Piru.

The gang’s primary rivals include the Lynwood Neighborhood Crips, Paramount Gundry Block Crips, Ward Lane Compton Crips, Duccy Hood Compton Crips, Santana Blocc Compton Crips, South Side Compton Crips, and Atlantic Drive Compton Crips.

Cross Atlantic Piru has also maintained rivalries with several Hispanic gangs, including South Side Gangsters, Compton Varrio 70’s, Compton Varrio 155, Compton Varrio Segundo, and Young Crowd. The rivalry with South Side Gangsters has produced some of the most documented incidents involving the gang.