Originally, this gang formed small coalitions to protect and preserve the identity of their culture and aspired to the personal, social, and economic needs of its people fearing verbal, mental, and physical. Ramon formed the latin kings with two other individuals, one being ramons cousin. Jorge oclander, gangs move into police ranks, chicago suntimes, october 6, 1995. Latin king gang member sentenced to prison for racketeering conspiracy hammonddavid ulmenstine, 28, of posen, illinois, and a member of the chicago based latin kings, was sentenced by judge simon to 70 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following his guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, announced u. The gang s stated purpose was the organization of hispanics dedicated to overcoming an oppressive government and uplifting all third world people.
But the latin kings an estimated 1,200 members and the two six some 800 members had been in existence since the 1950s or 1960s howell, 2015, and each gang was composed of 15 subunits, or sections, that operated on the streets in their adjacent territories spergel, 1995. Apr 03, 2021 gang members instructed to shoot at police vehicles after adam toledo shooting, cops warned according to a chicago police department alert to officers, latin kings members were likely to. Today, the gangster disciples, black disciples, and latin kings street. As a child in puderto rico, hed been brutally sodomized by a cousin, then, in chicago, he was beaten and abandoned by both parents. Narcotics, weapons, extortion, assaults, intimidation, beatings, stabbing, shootings, murder and graffiti history. Did the effort to eradicate chicagos gangs in the 1990s. The gang would become the most organized and violent hispanic street gang in the city of chicago. As a latin king, sanchez was as insanely homicidal as they come. Their greatest membership is within the united states, unlike ms and 18th street gang, whose greatest membership exists in central and south america. M7a1 gang wiki 2 history chicago is known for having multiple violent gangs and one of the most violent gangs is the latin kings. Dedicated to 20th century gang history chicago gang history. Jun 02, 2020 the latin kings are a large and powerful criminal gang in chicago they have sent out an sos that if anyone comes into their hoods trying to loot businesses or burn down buildings they will not only attack them but also then they will also turn them into authorities after they have finished beating them. It is different than that of the original lk manifest in the original chapter in chicago,illinois also known as the. The latin king gang is one of the most violent gangs in the united states today, with leaders unafraid to order hits on law enforcement and correctional officers with followers unashamed to obey their orders.
The largest latino gang in chicago, and perhaps in the united states, is the almighty latin king and queen nation. Inside one of new york citys most powerful gangs herb. Gang members instructed to shoot chicago police officers. Smiles ft gk heavy latin kings humboldt park chicago. The history of this gang is written in blood, with episodes so bizarre that they read like chapters from a pulp fiction novel.
From organized crime to folk and people street gangs, reveal the criminal origins of more than 90 of chicago s baddest street gangs. The latin kings, gangster disciples, surenos, maniac latin disciples and vice lords. In the late 1970s the latin kings took down a national guard armory making away with a number of military weapons. That last gang book, which is used as a guide for regional police, was. The latin kings formation began in chicago during the 1950s in humboldt park. This study uses digital trace data web scraped from a public facebook about chicago latinao gangs combined with geographic. Jun 02, 2020 police responded to the community to find the kings patrolling and cuffing any rioter. Chicago gang members business cards from the 1970s and 1980s. Chicago a chicago man alleged to be a corona of the latin kings, making him the highestranking leader outside of prison and responsible for overseeing the illegal activities of all factions of the powerful chicago street gang, is among 18 defendants charged in a sweeping new federal indictment against the gang s alleged hierarchy. In the year 1984 aurora suffered its first gang related homicide and now aurora police could no longer laugh about the gangs like they did in the january 10 th 1984 article of the chicago tribune where they reported gang activity to not be very severe and called the young latin kings and insane deuces in the neighborhood just wannabe kids.
The cpd said the order was allegedly given in retaliation for the officerinvolved shooting. Fabian gomez gato, a member of the latin saints street gang, testified that he had been working with the chicago police as a confidential informant since may 2001. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. An individual by the name of ramon santos sought to improve the lives of the latino community. Ellis, who became a latin kings member at an early age, admitted that as a juvenile he participated in the shooting deaths of james walsh and gonzalo diaz in griffith, ind. Jan 11, 2012 in seeking the 60year prison term, federal prosecutors called zambrano the larry hoover of the latin kings, a reference to the imprisoned head of the gangster disciples. Reveal the criminal origins of more than 90 of chicago s baddest street gangs. Other significant street gangs that are active in chicago, each with an estimated membership of over 1,000, include the new breeds, four corner hustlers, two six, maniac latin disciples, satan disciples, spanish cobras, and mickey. A federal prosecutor says 19 people, including latin kings gang members, a chicago police officer and former officer, have been indicted on charges of conspiring to operate a violent criminal. More than half are in three gangs the gangster disciples, latin kings and black p stones.
By the evening of june 19, 2011, police radios and police blogs across chicago were erupting with reports of gang violence. King picture, king photo, latin kings gang, chicago gangs, king book. Apr 04, 2021 according to a chicago police department memo to officers, latin king members were likely to shoot at unmarked police vehicles following toledos death. As a sequel to my bloody life, sanchezs memoir of sex, drugs and violence in the chicago street gang the latin kings, the author recounts the hardships of postgang life.
Chicago has a long history of organized crime and is home to numerous street gangs that use the illegal drug trade to build their criminal enterprises. Dir017 cartel and gangs in chicago unclassified dea. The corner of spaulding and beach in west humboldt park in chicago. Sep 23, 2010 ashland and cortez latin kings ca 1972. Former latin kings leader pleads guilty to racketeering. For more than 30 years, the area has been called the motherland by the latin kings street gang. The popes also known as the insane popes and originally the almighty popes are a chicago, illinois street gang, formed in the late 1950s on the north side of chicago, primarily building membership from a greek greaser gang that hung out at the corner of lawrence and rockwell. Though primarily thought of as a gang, the lk has quasipolitical and quasireligious aspects. The chicago faction of the latin kings is recognized as the largest hispanic street gang in the united states and one of the largest chicago based street gangs. Jun 11, 2018 more than half are in three gangs the gangster disciples, latin kings and black p stones.
Gang members instructed to shoot at police vehicles after adam toledo shooting, cops warned according to a chicago police department alert to officers, latin kings members were likely to. Jun 04, 2020 i wish all the gangs in every city would stand up and protect like latin kings. Perception of safety is an important factor affecting the leisure behavior of latinos residing in urban neighborhoods. The latin kings was formed in the 1960s in chicago.
The latin kings were established in chicago in the mid1960s and maintain a strong presence in the city, primarily in hispanic neighborhoods, as well as the prison system. From the hardest hoods of chicago to green grass suburbia. The almighty latin king nation is a american street gang founded in chicago in 1940, and active mostly in chicago. The original intent of the gang was to empower its members to improve their quality of life. Apr 05, 2021 according to the chicago suntimes, the police department has warned its officers that the latin kings gang has allegedly been instructed to shoot up unmarked patrol vehicles. The history of the latin kings is one of the untold stories of chicago s gangland. I was surprised to see the stats on latin kings i always thought they made a stronger showing, but in comparison to gangster disciples or vice lords, they are smalltime.
Start by marking articles on gangs in chicago, illinois, including. Any armed rioter was shot and arrested by the gang. A former member of the latin king gang describes his search as a young latino. Latin kings originally from chicago latin kings tattoos, mafia, latin kings gang, gangster. Chicago crime commission unveiling 1st gang book since 2012. Aug 14, 2019 founded in chicago during the early 1940s, the latin kings were born of the harsh conditions that many immigrants face when they first arrive in the united states. See more ideas about king book, latin kings gang, gang culture. Jun 11, 2018 that last gang book, which is used as a guide for regional police, was published in 2012. Chicago in the 1980s provides the setting for this extremely disturbing and raw account of a puerto rican teenager who lost himself to violent gang activity. According to the chicago crime commission publication, the gang book 2012, chicago ha. The chicago crime commission publication the gang book 1012 gave the statistic that chicago has more gang members than any other city in the world with a reported population of 150,000. The latin kings have members in several states and are most active in illinois, new york, texas, and florida. The almighty latin king and queen nation columbia university.
The latin kings street gang which originated in chicago s humboldt park neighborhood in the early 1960s, had developed a faction in little village by the mid1960s. Apr 05, 2021 chicago, il the chicago police department cpd issued an officer safety alert late last week after narcotics investigators discovered that factions of the latin kings street gang had been instructed by ranking members to shoot at unmarked chicago police vehicles. Police estimate 100,000 gang members are in the city. A cop friend just texted me that the latin kings sent a message to the. Your institution does not have access to this book on jstor. The information seemed overwhelming, from 1992 to 1995 at least 15 cops have been charged with crimes, forced to resign who were from some of chicago s most notorious street gangs, including the gangster disciples, the latin kings, and the latin lovers see. Chicago latin kings gang protect their hood against. The city had 532 murders in 2012, however, it saw a decrease to 403. Brotherton and luis barrios were given unprecedented access to new and neverbeforepublished material by and about the latin kings and queens, including the groups handbook, letters. According to the chicago suntimes, the police department has warned its officers that the latin kings gang has allegedly been instructed to shoot up unmarked patrol vehicles.
A look at todays chicago gangs and how theyve changed. The book that many call the bible on gangs in america today. Numbers chicago has 59 active street gangs, with more than 2,000 semiautonomous factions. This contributed to some of the chicago gang folk lore in the 1980s about how the latin kings were a heavily armed gang and had powerful military weapons. Mar 03, 2011 the copy of the gang rules, which was seized from the home of a latin kings member, covers everything from the need to remove rival graffiti to restrictions on drug use pcp and crack are outlawed. The officer safety alert was sent out on thursday when it was learned that the gang planned to seek revenge for adams death. Ii the crown once a brother is crown, he shall carry himself with a respect that no one can reach. This book chronicles the astounding selftransformation of one of the most feared gangs in the united states into a social movement acting on behalf of the dispossessed, renouncing violence and the underground economy, and requiring school attendance for membership. Latin kings join chicago pd to protect streets during riots. The latin kings are the oldest and largest hispanic street gang which has its roots dating back to 1930s in chicago, illinois.
Video shows warzonelike chicago streets as latino gangs. The almighty latin king and queen nation manifesto free essays. Latin king gang member sentenced to prison for racketeering. Latin king documents reveal a man by the name gino gustavo colon a.
He explains the cycle of poverty, abuse, drugs, racism and violence in one of the many inner city gulags in america. His respect his shield and his sword is to all those who. The chicago crime commission has released its latest book of street gangs in the chicago area that identifies about a thousand leaders and. Contrary to the stereotype of gangs, the kings were formed to help their community get settled, teaching english and providing job opportunities to newcomers, helping them navigate. Corona augustin zambrano among 18 alleged latin kings. He does a great job of writing this book as if you were him. Originally, this gang formed small coalitions to protect and preserve the identity of their culture and aspired to the personal. This small group had problems with the much larger latin kings gang on the north side, and so they began to. Latin kings gang in chicago protecting their hoods from riots. Its the book for anyone whos in a gang or thinking about joining one. Stones, gangster disciples, almighty saints, simon city royals, 14k triad, black. Chicago cops warned about street gangs plan to retaliate. The maniac latin disciples mld are the second largest latino street gang in chicago and the largest latino gang in the folks alliance. According to a chicago police department memo to officers, latin king members were likely to shoot at unmarked police vehicles following toledos death.
There are 59 gangs in chicago with an estimated 100,000 members. Latin gangs attack black chicago protesters in effort to. Reymundo sanchez takes you on a journey of through his personal experiances as a latin king member. Originally known as the latin disciples, the gang was founded by albert hitler hernandez in the humboldt park community in approximately 1966. Books and publications recommended by the national gang. Chicago, il the chicago police department cpd issued an officer safety alert late last week after narcotics investigators discovered that factions of the latin kings street gang had been instructed by ranking members to shoot at unmarked chicago police vehicles. Discover gang colors, symbols, territories and more explore all gangs explore all gangs. The alert comes from department leaders warning that the narcotics unit learned that factions of the latin kings were reportedly instructed by ranking members to shoot at police officers. Lord gino is considered the sun of the almighty latin king nation in chicago and has been for a long time. In chicago, the mayor wont call in the national guard so the latin kings a violent street gang are protecting the streets.
More than half are in three gangs the gangster disciples, latin. Latin king gang member sentenced to life in prison for. Discover gang colors, symbols, territories and more. First created 2015, currently under construction as of september 2018. Jun 30, 2006 great rundown on chicago gangs, including their corresponding graffiti, colors, symbols, alliances, and favored crimes.
Chicky snitched on white boy billy from lyndalecampbell, who did 20 years for killing a cobra. A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined. Latino gangs have played a major role in the history of both puerto rican and mexican history in chicago. Chicago cops warned about street gangs plan to retaliate for. Latin kings gang, chicago gangs, house music, rey, crime, mafia.
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Sanchez illustrates how the latin king motto once a king, always a king rings true and details the difficulty and danger of leaving that life behind. This riveting sequel to my bloody life traces reymundo sanchezs struggle to create a normal life outside the latin kings, one of the nations most notorious street gangs, and to move beyond his past. Crime commission book lists worst of the worst in chicago gangs.
1592 1078 607 334 1077 435 91 1375 1775 708 312 1629 247 234 452 962 843 1088 911 368 918 668 313 568 1020 1037 315 1667 260 911 1574 386 807 1482 928 1535 377 1348 122