Who Is Raymond Washington? Age, Biography and Wiki
Raymond Washington was born on August 14, 1953, making him 71 years old in 2025. He is best known as a prominent figure in the history of American street gangs, having co-founded the Crips in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. His early life was marked by struggles that led him to adopt a life of crime, significantly impacting urban environments in California. Despite passing away in 1979, his legacy continues to influence gang culture and criminal justice discussions.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1953 |
| Age | 25 Years |
| Birth Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 9 August, 1979 |
| Died Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Raymond Washington's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific body measurements for Raymond Washington during his life are not widely documented, reports suggest that he had an athletic build typical of his generation. Height estimations place him around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), with a weight approximately between 160-180 pounds (72-82 kg), contributing to his imposing presence as a gang leader.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Raymond Washington's personal life was kept relatively private. There is limited public information regarding his family or relationships. It is known that he had connections with various individuals in the gang scene, but comprehensive details about any significant other or children remain scarce due to the nature of his lifestyle.
His parents separated when he was two years old, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather. He grew up on East 76th Street, between Wadsworth Avenue and Central Avenues in Los Angeles' South Central. Washington had a half-brother, Derard S. Barton, from his mother's second marriage.
Although Raymond Lee Washington was raised mostly by his mother and stepfather, he was still close to his father's brother, Willard D. Washington, who worked for the United States Department of Interior as an analytical chemist from 1959-1968 and as a forensic chemist for the ATF from 1968-1990.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, estimating Raymond Washington's net worth is challenging due to his criminal activities and untimely death. During his life, however, his involvement in gang operations likely provided him with a significant income. Posthumously, his legacy continues to generate income through documentaries and literature surrounding gang culture, although specific figures are not publicly available.
The Crips quickly established themselves as the largest street gang in Los Angeles, with increasing numbers and territory as their influence spread across low-income black neighborhoods. Washington, Williams and Thomas effectively held a monopoly on criminal activity in these areas, and became the dominant crime bosses.
Street gangs that had resisted being absorbed into the Crips soon formed their own confederate alliance, the Bloods, to protect their independence and their interests in the criminal market.
The founding of the Bloods sparked an instant rivalry between the new large gangs that saw a surge in violent crime in Los Angeles, as neighboring Crip and Blood sets began using increasing violence to fight over territory and personal feuds.
With the rise of media coverage, which put these new violent gangs on the front page, soon many disaffected black youths were running to join the Crips, many without ever being contacted by gang leaders. One story at the time stated:
Career, Business and Investments
Raymond Washington's career was primarily defined by his role in establishing the Crips, which became one of the most notorious street gangs in the United States. His leadership style and strategic operations laid the groundwork for the gang's expansion across Los Angeles and beyond. After his death, the Crips continued to grow, and various factions emerged, demonstrating the lasting impact of his initial endeavors. Washington did not engage in conventional business pursuits; his life was predominantly intertwined with gang activities.
Raymond Lee Washington (August 14, 1953 – August 9, 1979) was an American gangster, known as the founder of the Crips gang in Los Angeles. Washington formed the Crips as a minor street gang in the late 1960s in South Los Angeles, becoming a prominent local crime boss.
In 1971, Washington formed an alliance with Stanley "Tookie" Williams, establishing the Crips as the first major African-American street gang in Los Angeles, and served as one of the co-leaders. In 1974, Washington was convicted of robbery and received a five-year prison sentence, during which his leadership and influence in the Crips declined.
Social Network
Despite his controversial reputation, discussions surrounding Raymond Washington's life have surged on social media platforms, particularly among discussions about gang culture and criminal justice. Various documentaries and YouTube channels dedicated to gang history discuss his influence, sparking conversations among users globally. However, he himself was not known to have an active presence on social media, given the era he lived in.
In the late 1960s, there was an increase in youth crime in Los Angeles, particularly in and around South Central's Watts neighborhood.
Crime was especially prevalent in the three housing projects located in Watts, known as "the Bricks": Imperial Courts, Nickerson Gardens, and Jordan Downs, where violent street robberies were common among adolescent criminals.
Older African-American street gangs in South Central, like the Slausons, the Businessmen, and the Gladiators, had been ended by activist groups such as the Black Panther Party and the US Organization.
The absence of the old gangs saw numerous new youth gangs begin to form in their place, including the Sportsmans Park, New House Boys, Acey Ducey, and Chain Gang, on West Side.
Education
Details about Raymond Washington's formal education are limited. It is believed he had a troubled childhood, which led to early disengagement from schooling. His experiences on the streets and involvement with gang life played a more significant role in his education than traditional schooling, shaping his views and strategies deeply entrenched in urban conflict and survival.
In 1971, Washington approached Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a similar gang leader from South Central's West Side who used his reputation as a fist fighter to unite gangs under his control, at Washington Preparatory High School where both were attending.
Washington had heard of Williams through a mutual friend, who had informed Washington of Williams' toughness and his willingness to fight members of larger, more established street gangs such as the L.A. Brims and the Chain Gang.
According to Williams' account of the meeting, what struck him about Washington was that, besides being incredibly muscular, he and his cohort were dressed similar to Williams and his clique, wearing leather jackets with starched Levi's jeans and suspenders.
Washington proposed to Williams they form a confederation of the gangs under their influence in their respective areas along with another teenage gang leader called Mac Thomas in Compton, to form a single large street gang.
The proposal would see Williams' gangs adopt the Crip branding and would be allied with other Crip gangs outside of the West Side, but would retain ultimate leadership in the East Side. Williams accepted Washington's proposal, uniting the West Side gangs under his influence as the West Side Crips.
