Watts Franklin Square Crips

Gang Name: Watts Franklin Square Crips (WFC)
Also Known As: Franklin Square Crips
Founded:1970s/1980s (exact year unknown)
Founded In: Watts, Los Angeles, California
Ethnicity: Predominantly African-American
Location: Franklin Square, East Watts, Los Angeles, California
Status: Active
Allies: Fudge Town Mafia Crips, 99 Mafia Crips, Compton Crips
Rivals: Circle City Piru, Bounty Hunter Bloods, Hacienda Village Bloods
Rap Association: Nationwide Rip Ridaz

The Watts Franklin Square Crips, also known as Watts Franklin Crps (WFC), are a small African-American street gang based in the Franklin Square neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles, California. The Watts Franklin Square Crips emerged during the rise of Crip sets throughout Watts in the 1970s and 1980s. Franklin Square became one of several neighborhoods established on the east side of Watts.

Unlike several of Watts’ larger gangs, the Watts Franklin Square Crips were not among the gangs that signed the historic 1992 Watts Truce. Nevertheless, the agreement helped reduce violence throughout Watts and influenced relationships between many gangs during the years that followed.

By the late 1990s, members of the Watts Franklin Square Crips were part of Nationwide Rip Ridaz, a West Coast gangsta rap group whose lineup included Crip members from Watts, Compton, and South Los Angeles. Franklin Square members included Big Freeze, Big Koollay, Cixx Pac, Mac-11, Keystone, and Baby Half Dead.

On December 25, 1999, Big Freeze was fatally shot in a gang-related shooting.

Territory

The Watts Franklin Square Crips claim the area surrounding 101st Street and 102nd Street between Success Avenue and Compton Avenue. One of the gang’s best-known gathering places is the cul-de-sac at 101st Street and Courtney Street.

Because the street has only one entrance and one exit, rival gang members have long viewed it as a dangerous place to enter during confrontations, giving the location a reputation as a “death trap.” Although the gang claims only a few blocks, Franklin Square has remained its home neighborhood since its formation.

Documented Incidents

City Nuisance Abatement Action (2010)

In 2010, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office filed nuisance abatement actions against seven properties in the Franklin Square neighborhood that authorities identified as gathering places for members of the Watts Franklin Square Crips and the Grape Street Watts Crips.

The lawsuits required property owners to install surveillance cameras, hire private security, and implement additional security measures designed to reduce gang activity around the targeted properties.

Murder of Louis Smith (2011)

On January 3, 2011, Louis Smith, a member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods, was fatally shot outside a Chinese Express restaurant at 1653 East 103rd Street after a confrontation with Jamurl “JMac” Scott.

The confrontation began inside the restaurant after Scott addressed Smith as “Loc.” The two men fought outside before separating. Scott left the shopping center, returned approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, armed with a semiautomatic handgun, and opened fire on Smith as he attempted to flee. Smith was struck multiple times, including in the back of the head, and died from his injuries.

During the trial, gang experts testified that Scott was an active member of the Watts Franklin Square Crips, citing his tattoos, prior police contacts, and his use of Crip terminology during the confrontation. Prosecutors argued the shooting was intended to restore Scott’s reputation after losing the initial fight and to benefit the Watts Franklin Square Crips. Scott was convicted of first-degree murder, the jury found the gang enhancement allegation to be true, and he was sentenced to 80 years to life in state prison.

Following the shooting, Scott fled to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Los Angeles Police Department before being returned to California for trial.

Allies & Rivals

Members are also associated with the 1990s “F Or Death” alliance, an informal alliance linking the Watts Franklin Square Crips, Fudge Town Mafia Crips, Front Street Watts Crips, and Front Hood Compton Crips.

The Watts Franklin Square Crips also maintain alliances with the 99 Watts Mafia Crips and the Main Street Crips. Their relationship with the Grape Street Watts Crips has varied over the years.

Their main rivals are the Circle City Piru, Bounty Hunter Bloods, 92 Be-Bop Watts, and Hacienda Village Bloods.