50 Strong, also known as Dell World, is a faction of the Gangster Disciples gang based on Chicago’s South Side. The set controls territory along West 50th Street from Peoria Avenue east to Union Avenue. It adopted the name Dell World to honor Shondell Adams, a 21-year-old member who was fatally shot in June 2012.
Territory
50 Strong’s primary domain extends from the intersection of West 50th Street and Peoria Avenue eastward to Union Avenue, encompassing several residential blocks and small businesses. The set’s presence is marked by distinctive graffiti and local intelligence reports, and it operates in an area historically contested by rival Black Disciples factions.
Affiliation
50 Strong is aligned with the Folk Nation alliance and identifies with the Gangster Disciples organization. This affiliation connects the set to a broader network of allied factions, including the Vice Lords and Latin Disciples. Members display the GD’s six-pointed star symbol in their graffiti and tattoos.
Activities
50 Strong is involved in street-level narcotics distribution, extortion, and enforcement. The set employs both violent and non-violent tactics to maintain control over its territory, frequently clashing with rival gangs for dominance and engaging in acts of intimidation to enforce its rules.
Notable Incidents
- On June 10, 2012, Shondell Adams was killed when an altercation escalated and an individual opened fire on a crowd in the 700 block of West 50th Place. Five people were shot in total, and two succumbed to their injuries.
- In the mid-2010s, law enforcement conducted targeted raids that resulted in multiple arrests of 50 Strong members on weapons and narcotics charges.