A police spokesman attributed the rise to "territorial disputes among gangs who all want the privilege of selling cocaine."

In the crowded and carved-up inner cities, competition among gangs is fierce.

Past homicide statistics were inflated by turf battles among gangs, which is violence in the service of a particular social subculture.

The police believe that most of the killings they order result from clashes among gangs over control of lucrative sales spots.

Those efforts led eight years ago to a well publicized truce among gangs.

"So there will be a continuing struggle among gangs to dominate it."

"You see it among fraternity members or gangs in the inner city."

The touching and ridiculous progression of this relationship parallels the escalating clashes among gangs.

The illegal trade in crack cocaine, which had spawned a great deal of violence among gangs and drug dealers, began to decline.

Many crimes are also thought to be a result of vendettas among criminal gangs.