The Tri-City Bombers (originally called the Tri-City Poppers) started as clique of young break dancers that became a street gang in the early 1990s when the popularity of break dancing declined.. The "Bombitas", as their known, originated as a break dancing crew in Lopezville colonia north of San Juan, Texas. The crew was based within the tri-city border metropolis of Pharr, San Juan and Alamo, Texas. The street gang was involved in petty crime and many of its members were sent to prison and became associate members of the Texas Syndicate.
Paroled members of the Tri-City Bombers adopted the highly organized structure of the Texas Syndicate and set up a similar chain of command for their gang on the streets. The gang built an alliance with the Texas Syndicate in 1994 and assists the TS in high intensity drug trafficking, extortion and armed robberies.
In 1994, Tri-City Bombers Gilberto Villarreal and J.D. Urbina split from gang and form the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. The Tri-City Bombers did not approve of the split and declared war with the Texas Chicano Brotherhood soon after. The Texas Syndicate, Tango Blast and Mexikanemi all joined in on the attack against the Texas Chicano Brotherhood to prevent the new gang from establishing itself in the Texas prison system.
Texas gang intelligence officials say they have seen an increase in numbers of Tri-City Bombers in Texas prisons and believe the gang is currently recruiting new members behind the walls. The sharp decline of traditional gangs such as Texas Syndicate may be the reason street gangs such as the Tri-City Bombers are thriving in numbers.
Symbols: Classic 1950’s cars, Bombs, TCB.
Territory: Pharr, San Juan and Alamo, TX
Alliances: Texas Syndicate
Members: 500
Ethnicity: Hispanic
In 1980s, the Tri City Bombers begin as a break dance crew and transcend into a violent street gang in the Pharr, San Juan and Alamo, TX. (Gang Intelligence 101)
In 1994, Texas Chicano Brotherhood is formed by Gilberto Villarreal and other ex-members of the Tri-City Bombers. The Tri-City Bombers did not approve of the split and declared war with the Texas Chicano Brotherhood. The Texas Syndicate, Mexikanemi, and Tango Blast, all joined in on the attack against the Texas Chicano Brotherhood to prevent the new gang from establishing itself within the Texas prisons. [citation needed]
On September 4, 2002, armed members of the Tri-City Bombers murder 6 women working at Garcia's Bar in Donna, Texas. The killers were ordered to murder Nora Rodriguez and M. Quintero, but mistakenly kill the wrong women. (Associated Press)
On January 5, 2003, armed members of the Tri-City Bombers, raid the stash house of rival Texas Chicano Brotherhood members and murder 6 men: 5 men in one house, and 1 man inside a second house on the same property. The killers who were wearing jackets with the word "Police, were armed with SKS Norinco assault rifles. Victims include: Jerry Hidalgo, Rey Hidalgo, Juan Delgado Jr., Juan Delgado III, Ruben Rolando Castillo, and Jimmy Armendarez. The brutal murders become known as the “Edinburg Massacre.”
(Medrano v. State, No. AP-75,320 (Tex. Crim. App. 11/26/2008) (Tex. Crim. App., 2008)
On January 17, 2003, Texas Rangers detained Marcial Bocanegra, a member of the Tri-City Bombers, in connection with the "Edinburg massacre." (Associated Press) [source]
On January 24, 2003, Humberto "Gallo" Garza, an alleged captain of the Tri-City Bombers gang, is arrested in connection with the “Edinburg Massacre.” (Hidalgo County Sheriff Department) [source]
On September 4, 2002, armed members of the Tri-City Bombers murder 6 women working at Garcia's Bar in Donna, Texas. The killers were ordered to murder Nora Rodriguez and M. Quintero, but mistakenly kill the wrong women.
On April 11, 2000, Tri City Bombers fatally stab Rodulfo Landa to death at a night club in Hidalgo County, Texas. (Associate Press)
On June 2006, 3 members of the Tri City Bombers are stabbed 23 times by rival Texas Chicano Brotherhood members at the Telford state prison in Texarkana, Texas. Augustin
Amador, 34, dies as a result of his wounds. (Associated Press)
In October 2007, two members of the Latin Kings brutally murder Tri City Bombers captain 42 year old Gerardo “Boxer” Gutierrez in Pharr, Texas. (Associated Press)
On Oct. 31, 2007, the Tri-City Bombers are paid by the Zeta drug cartel to attack a trucking business outside of Palmview. The attack came as a result of a drug debt. (Associated Press)
On April 2008, The U.S. Department of Justice announces that the Tri City Bombers, Texas Chicano Brotherhood, and Hermandad Pistoleros Latinos are all distributing large amounts of drugs throughout the South Texas area. (Associated Press)
