Gangs Growing in Longview

LONGVIEW – The number of gang members in Longview is increasing. Longview police detective James Bray said the number of gangs operating in Longview has increased to 42, with 274 documented members. The Longview News Journal reports Bray’s comments came Friday at a community meeting hosted by Partners in Prevention, Pine Tree ISD Student Services and the Pine Tree PTA focused on drugs, gangs and sex trafficking in the city.

Bray told the gathering that in 2015, 13 known gangs were operating in the city. Bray said the largest gang is Throwed Young Ballers (TYB) has 31 members. The newest gang to start operating in Longview is Throwed Savage Niggas (TSN). They have been active the past several years in Gladewater. According to Bray, gangs are recognized officially if they have at least three members, have some sort of identity (such as a name or symbol), if there is someone at least loosely in charge and if its members have committed a crime.