If you’ve spent any time looking into the heavy, complicated history of Los Angeles street culture, you’ve definitely run into the name Sylvester Scott. Usually, he’s called "Puddin." People talk about him like a ghost or a legend. Because of that, the question is Sylvester Scott still alive pops up constantly in true crime forums and history threads.
The short answer? No.
Sylvester Scott, one of the original architects of what would eventually become the Bloods alliance, passed away nearly two decades ago. Specifically, he died on May 12, 2006.
It’s kind of wild how much misinformation floats around about him. Some people think he’s hiding out in the South; others confuse him with different men who share his name. But the records are pretty clear. He was 51 years old when his life ended in Gardena, California.
The Reality of Sylvester Scott’s Passing
Let’s get the facts straight because there are a lot of "Sylvester Scotts" out there. If you look at Social Security records or California death indexes, you’ll see several entries.
However, the Sylvester "Puddin" Scott associated with the Piru Street Boys—the group that famously stood up against the early expansion of the Crips—is the one who died in May 2006. He didn't die of old age or a long illness. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s records, his death was the result of a shooting.
It’s a grim ending for someone who played such a massive role in the landscape of Compton and Los Angeles. He was born on November 13, 1954. By the time he was a teenager, he was already a central figure on the streets.
You might see recent obituaries for other men named Sylvester Scott. For instance, a Sylvester Scott from Peoria passed away in October 2025. Another Sylvester Lee Scott from Racine died in 2024. These are different people. It’s easy to see why the "is he alive" rumor persists when names repeat across the country, but "Puddin" has been gone for a long time.
Why People Still Ask if He’s Alive
Honestly, the reason this stays a trending topic is the mystery. Scott wasn't a celebrity in the traditional sense. He didn't have a publicist. He wasn't doing interviews on 20/20. He was a figure from an era of LA history that was documented more by police reports and neighborhood stories than by official biographies.
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People are fascinated by the "founding father" figures of street culture. Since Scott wasn't as visible as someone like Tookie Williams, who wrote books and became a public figure while on death row, Scott remained a bit of a shadow.
- Legend vs. Fact: In street culture, legends often "don't die." People love the idea that a founder might have "gotten out" and is living a quiet life somewhere.
- The Name Confusion: As mentioned, the name Sylvester Scott is surprisingly common.
- Lack of Media Coverage: Back in 2006, the death of a former gang founder didn't always make national headlines unless it was tied to a major trial.
The Piru Legacy and "Puddin"
To understand why anyone cares if he's alive, you have to understand what he did. In the late 1960s and early 70s, the Crips were taking over everything. They were the biggest force in LA.
Sylvester Scott and a few others, like Vincent Owens, weren't having it. They lived on Piru Street in Compton. They started the Piru Street Boys as a way to protect their neighborhood from being absorbed by the Crips. Eventually, they met with other "non-Crip" sets, and that’s how the Bloods alliance was born.
It’s a heavy legacy. Scott lived through the most violent eras of that conflict. By the time he died in 2006, the world he helped create had changed completely. It had gone from local neighborhood defense to a global brand, for better or worse.
Sorting Through the Records
If you’re doing your own digging, watch out for the dates. Here is a quick breakdown of what the actual records show for the Sylvester Scott you’re likely looking for:
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- Birth Date: November 13, 1954.
- Death Date: May 12, 2006.
- Location: Gardena, California.
- Cause: Homicide (Gunshot).
I’ve seen some YouTube videos claiming he’s currently incarcerated or living in Africa. There’s zero evidence for that. The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report specifically tracks his case. He was 51. He was Black. He died on Marine Ave. It’s a closed chapter.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Scott was "the leader" of the Bloods until his death. That’s just not how it works. Street organizations in LA aren't like the Mafia with one "Godfather." They are decentralized.
By the late 90s and early 2000s, Scott was an "OG"—an elder statesman, sure—but he wasn't running a corporate-style empire. His death in 2006 was a significant moment for those who knew the history, but for the average person on the street at the time, he was just another victim of the violence he had been part of for decades.
It’s also worth noting that Scott has been mentioned in several books and documentaries about the Bloods and Crips, usually as a footnote in the "Origins" chapter. Because he didn't seek the limelight, his personal life stayed mostly private until his death.
Actionable Insights for Researching Historic Figures
If you are looking for more info on figures like Sylvester Scott, don't just trust the first blog you see.
- Check Coroner Records: For anyone who lived a "high-risk" lifestyle, the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner database is your best friend.
- Look for Nicknames: Most people from that era are better known by their street names. Searching for "Puddin Scott" often yields more specific historical results than just "Sylvester Scott."
- Verify the Geography: If the obituary says he died in Illinois or Wisconsin, it’s not him. The Piru founders were strictly Southern California-based.
The story of Sylvester Scott is a reminder of how quickly history can become distorted when it isn't recorded by mainstream sources. He was a real person with a family and a very complicated impact on the city of Los Angeles. While he isn't alive today, his name is still etched into the history of Compton.
If you're looking for the most accurate historical context, I'd suggest looking into the "Homicide Report" by the LA Times or books like Monster by Sanyika Shakur, which, while focusing on the Crips, gives a vivid look at the world Scott inhabited.
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To get the full picture of the era, you should cross-reference his death date with the rise of the "Piru" identity in the early 70s. This helps separate the man from the myth.