Black Shadow Gang

The Black Shadow (gang) is a Chinese street gang that originated in Chicago's Chinatown in 2003. The gang is comprised with American-born Chinese and immigrants from China who banded together to combat and protect their own people from being attacked by Hispanic gang members. The youths, many from impoverished families, coalesced into an organized gang, expanding to include members of other Asian ethnic groups. Members don't necessarily hail from broken homes or live in poverty. Many also come from affluent families and live double lives.

They have developed strong associations with Asian organized crime groups and gang members in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. The group is composed of young men with affiliations to other Asian gang members in Chicago's north side. They represent the color black and the numbers 219 but many of the older members do not present themselves at all. The reason for this is a desire to lay low and detract police attention. Their priority is money making or whatever benefits the immediate group. Remaining anonymous was one way to make money.

Members tattooed themselves with old English letters and Chinese characters of the gang's name in different parts of the body as a sign of loyalty and love for the set. Formal gangs typically have a "Nation Day" which is a commemorative date for the members of the gang. The Nation Day for the Black Shadow gang is February 19th of every year.

The gang is also located in Lynn, Massachusetts with Cambodian youth gang members that present themselves affiliated with the 5 point star Bloods and represent the black rag with the numbers 219. The Black Shadow gang has an ongoing conflict with another rival Asian gang in Lynn, the Asian Boyz gang who aligned themselves to the 6 point star Crips. This set has allowed non Asian members to join the gang as well.

Typical criminal activities include high-tech, sophisticated white-collar crimes to violent drive by shootings, robberies, weapons offenses, auto theft, home invasions, drug trafficking, burglaries, commercial burglaries, credit card fraud, gambling and prostitution.

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