Then when the war started, it started because IIVLs killed Happy from Kedzie/Cortez, 1990. Kedzie/Cortez Kings had also shot an Unknown VL that survived in the mid-'80s, Tyrone Robertson, in Garfield Park, over a girl. Kings had mistaken him for a GD, as he was wearing black and blue. Then around 1986, the 2nd Unknown VL killed was Tony Brown, by the park. Kings had warned and chased the VL out of the hood a few times, eventually caught him with the queen by Division/Washtenaw, and killed him. A queen just broke up with a King from Kedzie/Cortez, and then went with this VL. The 1st Unknown VL killed by Humboldt Park Kings, was around 1980-81. In the late '70s or early '80s, Kings from Humboldt killed Chubbs from TVL in King's hood. Then he had tried to kill the VL's sister, Verlinda, but he was out of bullets.Īlthough the official war started 1990, Kings have killed some Vice Lords before the war started. On June 27, he and his female accomplice Florentine Menendez, saw Glenn Burr at Potomac and Leavitt, and she shouted "Shoot that Black mother fker!" and then. The time was just part of it," said Booney." The big part of it now is coming back to these places where I was a part of the problem for so long and being part of the solution.Lord Gino killed a Vice Lord in 1971, and went to prison for it.
"Austin is a rich community that lots of people come from, but have abandoned because of the lack of services that are not directed in this community anymore," Ford said.īooney says abandoning his roots is not an option. The West Side Democrat has lobbied for resources to help struggling West Side communities, but so far without much luck. "That's a tough burden on a community because these people have a difficult time finding employment," said State Rep. There are few other programs like BUILD on the West Side, an area that has many gangs and a staggering number of ex-cons. "I believe that's my punishment to come back to my community, and save as many as I can," said Booney. And it gives one former gang member a purpose. The program hopes to give kids in West Side neighborhoods a "fighting chance" to stay out of gangs. Reed now spends his days with Booney at an organization known as BUILD, which stands for Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development. "I have a lot of friends in gangs," Reed said. A judge ordered Reed to several months of house arrest. The West Side teen met Booney about a year ago after getting picked up for having a gun. "I talk to Booney a lot, about everything," said 16-year-old Javion Reed. He now spends his days trying to keep kids away from gang life. "When we started this gang we had no idea that 40 years later the effects of something we did as kids would have on my community."Īnd so after 37 years behind bars, Booney says he changed his ways. And out of anger I went over there with a gun."īooney was convicted of first degree murder. I gave them to somebody and another individual took my drugs. "I didn't know the individual, but it was a drug thing," he said.
Each time he was released he rejoined his gang, committing crimes in his community.
As an adult he landed in jail on multiple occasions. That was my hustle," he said.īooney drifted in and out of juvenile detention centers when he was young. He admits using drugs at a young age and robbing the men who came into the neighborhood to hire prostitutes. "I never left my house without my gun and bullet proof vest," Booney said. And the initiation was simple - prospective members had to break a window at the nearby funeral home and stare at the cadavers.īut the rest of gang life was not as easy. The idea for the gang name came from a nearby funeral home. "This is where me and eight other guys started a street gang, called the Cicero Undertaker Vice Lords." "This is Cicero and Van Buren," said Clifton McFowler, who simply goes by Booney. Now one man, who was once part of the problem in this community, is stepping up to be part of the solution. Politicians have lobbied for funding to resuscitate the ailing area, but with no luck. Many of the historic row homes are boarded up and nearby businesses abandoned. The once-vibrant West Side community of Austin is now plagued by crime, unemployment and street gangs.
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