Black Guerrilla Family

In 1979, former BGF lawyer Fay Stender was shot five times by recently paroled Black Guerilla Family member Edward Glenn Brooks for Stender’s alleged betrayal of George Jackson. Brooks forced Stender to state: "I, Fay Stender, admit I betrayed George Jackson and the prison movement when they needed me most" just before he shot her.[10] Stender was left paralyzed below the waist by the assault and in constant pain. She committed suicide in Hong Kong shortly after she testified against Brooks.[11]

On August 22, 1989, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Huey P. Newton was fatally shot outside 1456 9th St. in West Oakland by 25-year-old Black Guerilla Family member Tyrone Robinson.[12] Relations between Newton and factions within the Black Guerilla Family had been strained for nearly two decades. Many former Black Panthers who became BGF members in jail were disenchanted with Newton for his perceived abandonment of imprisoned Black Panther Party members within the party. In his book, Shadow of the Panther, Hugh Pearson alleges that Newton was addicted to crack cocaine, and his extortion of local BGF drug dealers to obtain free drugs added to their animosity.[13]

Robinson was convicted of the murder in August 1991 and sentenced to 32 years for the crime.[14]

In 2015 Baltimore police stated that the Black Guerrilla Family, the Bloods, and the Crips were "teaming up" to target police officers.[15] Later, however, leaders of both the Bloods and the Crips denied the allegations,[16] released a video statement asking for calm and peaceful protest in the area,[17] and joined with police and clergy to enforce the curfew.[18] At one occasion, gang members helped to prevent a riot at the Security Square Mall by dispersing attempted rioters.[19] On other occasions, rival gang members helped each other to protect black-owned businesses, black children, and reporters, diverting rioters to Chinese- and Arab-owned businesses instead.[20]