ONLY ON 3: What is the ii street gang?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — From California to New Jersey to Wilmington, the notorious Bloods gang has made it to our neck of the woods.

Yesterday we learned police say the man who died outside the Rhino Club Monday morning was a five-star general in the ii street gang, a branch of the Bloods.

Taaron Jones died early Monday morning in downtown Wilmington, stabbed during a fight. Jones was also known as Merk Biiddy. Police say he was a five-star general in the ii street gang.

According to a gang profile by the Department of Justice, a five-star general is the set’s single leader. The profile says leaders like Jones are not elected. Instead they assert themselves by developing criminal enterprises and their reputation for violence, among other factors.

The ii street gang started in East Orange, NJ, as a set of the United Blood Nation gang, the East Coast branch of the Los Angeles-based Bloods.

The gang profile, which takes a look at the entire East Coast Blood Nation, also dissects the gang’s role by region. It says in the southeast the gang transports drugs from New York City for distribution throughout the region, particularly North Carolina.

FBI officials in New Jersey say they have shaken down the ii gang numerous times arresting several gang leaders. They say many times when a gang is brought down the remaining members often leave to different cities.

At this time we do not know if Jones had a direct connection with the branch in New Jersey.