When you hear the name Larry Hoover, you might think of Chicago’s gritty streets or the infamous Gangster Disciples, a gang that left a major mark on urban America. But did you know the Gangster Disciples also have a history right here in St. Louis? Let’s break down who Larry Hoover is and how his gang’s influence reached our city.
Who Is Larry Hoover?
Larry Hoover, born on November 30, 1950, in Jackson, Mississippi, grew up in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood after his family moved there when he was four. By his teens, Hoover was already caught up in street life. At just 13, he joined a small crew called the Supreme Gangsters, getting involved in petty crimes like theft. By age 15, he was leading the gang after its original leader was killed. Hoover had big ambitions, and in 1969, he teamed up with David Barksdale, leader of the rival Black Disciples, to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation (BGDN). This merger created one of Chicago’s most powerful gangs, with Hoover as a key figure, eventually becoming its “Chairman” after Barksdale’s death in 1974.
Hoover’s leadership wasn’t just about street power. He controlled a massive drug trade in Chicago’s South Side, reportedly making $1,000 a day by his early 20s and later scaling it to millions annually. But his actions came with consequences. In 1973, Hoover was convicted of ordering the murder of William “Pooky” Young, a 19-year-old accused of stealing drugs from the gang. He was sentenced to 150–200 years in prison. Even behind bars, Hoover kept running the Gangster Disciples, which led to federal charges in 1997 for drug trafficking, extortion, and running a criminal enterprise. He’s been in a high-security prison in Colorado ever since, serving six life sentences.
The Gangster Disciples Spread to St. Louis
The Gangster Disciples didn’t stay confined to Chicago. By the 1980s and 1990s, the gang expanded across the Midwest, including to St. Louis. This was part of a broader growth of the Folk Nation, an alliance of gangs Hoover created in 1978 while in prison. The Folk Nation included the Gangster Disciples and other groups, and it spread to cities like Kansas City, Memphis, and, yes, St. Louis.
In St. Louis, the Gangster Disciples found fertile ground in neighborhoods struggling with poverty and limited opportunities, much like Chicago’s South Side. The gang’s structure was corporate-like, with “board members” overseeing operations in different regions. St. Louis became a hub for their drug trafficking and other illegal activities. By the 1990s, the Gangster Disciples were known for their presence in parts of North St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois, just across the river. These areas saw increased gang activity, including drug sales and violent disputes with rival groups.
One major event tied to the Gangster Disciples in the St. Louis area happened in April 2018. Federal prosecutors say two gang members, Anthony Dobbins and Warren Griffin, who were allegedly promoted to leadership roles by Hoover himself, ordered the murder of a rival gang member in a park in Bridgeton, Missouri. The shooting, which involved over 70 shots, including from an AK-47, happened in broad daylight near a children’s playground. This showed how the Gangster Disciples’ influence in St. Louis was tied to serious violence, even decades after Hoover’s imprisonment.
The Gangster Disciples’ Impact on St. Louis
The Gangster Disciples’ presence in St. Louis wasn’t just about crime; it shaped parts of the city’s street culture. The gang’s symbols, like the six-pointed star and pitchfork, popped up in graffiti and tattoos around town. Their rivalries, especially with groups tied to the People Nation (like the Vice Lords), fueled conflicts in neighborhoods like Gravois Park and Old North Saint Louis. These tensions sometimes led to shootings and other violence, making life tougher for residents already dealing with economic struggles.
But it wasn’t all negative. Some Gangster Disciples members, inspired by Hoover’s later attempts to rebrand the gang as “Growth and Development,” got involved in community efforts. In the 1990s, Hoover pushed a political movement called 21st Century V.O.T.E., encouraging members to focus on voting and community organizing instead of violence. While this was more talk than action in many cases, it showed how Hoover’s influence reached beyond crime, even in places like St. Louis.
Hoover’s Legacy and St. Louis Today
By 2022, Hoover publicly stated he was done with the Gangster Disciples, saying he wanted “no part” of the gang. His lawyers argue he’s a changed man, pushing for his release under the First Step Act, a law that allows some prisoners to seek shorter sentences. Despite this, federal prosecutors say Hoover still has sway over the gang, pointing to coded messages he allegedly sent from prison. In St. Louis, the Gangster Disciples remain active, though the gang has split into smaller factions, making it less organized than it once was.
In 2025, President Donald Trump commuted Hoover’s federal life sentence, but he’s still serving his state sentence for the 1973 murder, so he remains in prison. This decision sparked debate in St. Louis and beyond. Some see Hoover as a product of a tough environment who tried to reform, while others view him as a dangerous figure responsible for decades of violence.
What Does This Mean for St. Louis?
The story of Larry Hoover and the Gangster Disciples is a window into the city’s complex history with gangs. It’s a reminder of how poverty, lack of opportunity, and systemic issues can fuel gang activity, but also how individuals and communities can push for change. The Gangster Disciples’ influence in St. Louis shows both the destructive side of gang life—drugs, violence, and prison—and the potential for redemption, as seen in Hoover’s later community-focused efforts.
Navigating St. Louis today, you might see echoes of this history in your neighborhood. Community leaders and organizations are working to steer young people away from gangs through mentorship, music, and programs like those celebrated on STLhiphop.com. Hip-hop culture, after all, has roots in the same streets where gangs like the Gangster Disciples operated, offering a creative outlet for expression and change.
Larry Hoover’s story is one of power, crime, and controversy, and it’s left a lasting mark on St. Louis. The Gangster Disciples brought both chaos and a strange kind of structure to parts of our city, but their history also teaches us about resilience and the fight for better opportunities. Understanding this past can help you see the challenges and possibilities in your community—and maybe even inspire you to make a difference, whether through music, activism, or just staying true to your path.
Sources: Various web sources, Wikipedia, Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Tribune.
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