The creation of the WGTF in December of 2005 followed the shooting of an influential gang leader—which sparked an 18-day retaliation war between rival gangs in the public housing projects of Jordan Downs and Nickerson Gardens. Eight concerned Watts citizens gathered at the office of Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, with LAPD captains, gang interventionists, along with the Congresswoman as the broker. This collective was able to arrange a private meeting between the leadership of the warring gangs, by themselves, at Hahn’s office.