The Blade looks at how Toledo compares with other cities in gang violence

Cincinnati police detain a suspect after targeting members of the Walnut Hills Posse in 2011. Gang-related homicides dropped 42 percent after the effort.

Part four of a four-part series

Enough was enough.

A feud between two rival gangs — the Black Point Mafia and Hancock Kings — led to “a ton of shootings” about two years ago in Sandusky, police Chief John Orzech said.

Last year, numerous gang members were convicted on various charges, including participating in a criminal gang, effectively taking gangs off the police department’s watch list for the first time in more than a decade, the chief said.

Sandusky’s gangs — there were only really a few, the chief said — were not much different than Toledo’s and gangs in other cities around the state.

The National Gang Center reported that, in 2011, an estimated 29,900 gangs existed in the United States, fewer than the 30,800 in 1996.

Many are loosely organized, identifying themselves by streets or neighborhoods.

READ MORE: Cities' gangs similar across state

More Day Four coverage:

Story: Police chief refutes Toledo mayor

Storify: Discuss the series on social media with #toledogangs

Map: Interactive Toledo gang map

About the series:

Battle Lines: The Gangs of Toledo

Videos: Battle Lines: The Gangs of Toledo

Reporter: Taylor Dungjen

Photographer: Amy E. Voigt

Getting the gang story: How 2 Blade staffers overcame obstacles to cover Toledo's gangs