211 Crew

The gang was formed in 1995 after founding member Benjamin Davis was beaten and nearly killed in a racially motivated attack by a black inmate. Davis was jumped and beaten with a sock stuffed full of soap bars, resulting in a badly broken jaw. Davis decided to form a gang in order to protect himself, and other white inmates, from the black and Latino gangs. 211 Crew began as a deception to fool black and Latino gangs into thinking that a white gang was present to protect white inmates. As the rumor grew within the institution, men soon started asking about membership and 211 Crew became a prison gang. As members got released they started recruiting on the street level.[2][3]

When founded, the gang embraced symbols traditionally associated with Irish, Nazi and Viking culture, some members have tattoos of shamrocks, Viking horns, swastikas and/or other Nazi sigils. Members refer to each other as "Irishmen", and are banned from having sex with non-whites. Coupled with the gang’s alleged ties to the Aryan Brotherhood, many have classified 211 Crew as a white supremacist prison gang. However, it maintains positive relations with the Juggalos,[6] a multi-ethnic gang, and 211 Crew members, including its founders, have been documented with ties to black inmates. Israel Davis, father of Benjamin Davis, has stated that his son is not a racist and has two black siblings. However, 211 Crew members have also been linked to racially motivated murders of African Americans, making the gang's official stance on race unclear.[2][3][7]

In 1997, African immigrant Oumar Dia was murdered by 211 Crew gang members while waiting for a bus in Denver.[2]

In 2013, 211 Crew member Evan Spencer Ebel, murdered a local pizza delivery man in order to use his work clothes and paraphernalia as a disguise. Ebel then drove to the home of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements and called at the door, under the rouse of delivering a pizza. When Clements answered, Ebel shot him several times. After murdering Clements on the steps of his own home, Ebel immediately fled; authorities finally caught up to him on a Texas highway, possibly on his way to Mexico. Ebel refused to surrender and engaged in a protracted, high speed car chase and shootout with pursuing law enforcement officers. The pursuit came to an end after Ebel crashed head on into a gravel truck, sustaining serious injuries. Following the accident, Ebel never regained consciousness and was removed from life support the following day.[2][8]