Latin Counts - Chicago Gang History

Founded	Founded c. 1955 in or near Pilsen (Lower West Side)
Formerly known as	Sons of Mexico City 1957-1959, Latin Counts 1959-present
Affiliations	People Nation — 1978 – 2000 or later;
Colors	Black and Red
Primary ethnicities	Latino (Mexican)
Symbols	Count Dracula, Knight's Helmet, and Cross
Symbol usage	Cross with 5 slashes above it 1978-present
Status	Active

The Latin Counts are the first Mexican street gang to form in the Pilsen neighborhood. Back in a time when the neighborhood was mostly a Czech neighborhood. In response to the issues the Mexican families faced a neighborhood club was created by the youth among this first wave of migration calling themselves the “Texans.” The Texans protected the area of 16^th-17^th and Loomis and their biggest enemy was an Italian greaser gang called the Taylor Street Boys.

By 1958 another group started called the Sons of Mexico City that fought for the same causes as the Texans bringing these two groups together as allies. Just like the Texans the Sons of Mexico City were proud of where they came from before they moved to Chicago.

In the year 1958 and 1959 more Mexican families began to arrive in Pilsen during a mass migration wave from the Near West Side community and directly from Mexico. Among the families from the Near West Side came members of street gangs from those communities that all wanted to claim ownership of 18^th Street, including the intersection of 18^th and Loomis.

In the January 1959, most of the Sons of Mexico City and all the Texans took on a new identity and new name. The new name for the organization would become the “Latin Counts.” The name and colors of black and red was taken after the “Polish Counts” street gang that operated in the Back of the Yards community. The new symbols would become a cross with slashes above it and a knight’s helmet. The knight’s helmet idea came from Knight Brand matches, a well-known match maker company that used a black and red knight’s helmet as an emblem. The cross symbol came from a nearby church in the neighborhood. The Latin Counts took in the Texans including the founder of the Texans.

In March of 1959, the Latin Counts name was documented in social service records along the Texans. In the late 1950s Latin Counts visited the Howell House at 17^th and Racine to receive social services that was offered to street gangs at the time, and this is how the early document surfaced.

In the year 1959, another gang moved in from the Near West Side called “Ambrose” that set up a territory at nearby 18^th and Throop. The Counts being at 18^th and Loomis was just a couple blocks away brought a clash between the gangs because Ambrose was the invader of the area. Ambrose became very popular just as the Latin Counts did and this heated up the rivalry more.

In 1961, as new youths wanted to join the Latin Counts, the “Junior Latin Counts” were created for the younger members to be governed on their own for the most part.

The Latin Counts would grow in the 1960s and begin conflicting with the Satan Disciples after they moved onto 18^th Street in 1960. The counts also had rivalry with the Latin Kings after they moved to Coulter and Damen in 1966. Regardless of all the wars the Counts were still able to grow to conquer territory within the borders of: 16^th Street on the north, Cullerton Street on the south, Racine Avenue on the east and Paulina Street on the west in Pilsen.

In the year 1961, the Latin Counts branched out for the first time outside of Pilsen as they recruited white members in the Little Village community around 23^rd and Whipple. It is said these Counts were mainly Italian. This was some of the first major white recruitment the Latin Counts would experience. In July of 1961, the Latin Counts of Little Village got into altercations with African American street gangs from North Lawndale, but I do not know which African American gangs, the newspapers I read didn’t mention the other gangs. The rivalry became racially motivated because African American students attended Harrison High School and were either bussed into the neighborhood or walked to and from school. Many times, African American youths moved in numbers as they crossed the neighborhood borders. Some youths hung around in the area as they often were reluctant to adhere to racial boundaries. Many times, these African American youths caused trouble in Little Village especially if they were attached to gangs. White gangs in Little Village were very guarded of the neighborhood and often could not withstand African American youths lingering after school, this caused many gang fights. In July of 1961 this conflict escalated especially since the Counts were new to Little Village, but these members already had racial issues with African Americans from North Lawndale already. On Wednesday July 12, 1961, African American gangs accused the Latin Counts of shooting 16-year-old Matthew Tolber of North Lawndale to death as he was trying to make his way home from summer school. African American gang pursued justice of their own by seeking out any white youths they felt had anything to do with Latin Counts. These African American youths stated to police that the “Latin Counts” were responsible for the murder that happened at 23^rd and Whipple. From what I gather from articles, the killer was never caught but police were investigating; however, street justice was laid out as hoards of African American gangs invaded Little Village seeking violent revenge. Several reports of African Americans attacking white youths were reported while reports of white youths attacking African Americans going to and from summer school were reported in July. This mushroomed into a racial riot that caused several police to put down this unrest. The NAACP even needed to get involved. I don’t know how long this section of Latin Counts lasted in the earlier 60s but it eventually folded and became an unsuccessful chapter; however, this section showed that Latin Counts attempted to branch out very early in history and had some down members on these streets at the time, it just appears they made too much noise and likely got shut down by the police.

Another early branch out of Latin Counts in the early 60s came to the suburb of Rockford in 1963. It is my theory that once the Latin Counts of Little Village were shut down, I theorize their parents moved them to the suburbs to escape gang violence. It is a fact that white flight began in Little Village in 1962 and perhaps many of these 23^rd and Whipple Counts were relocated to Rockford’s south side. I was given 1963 and 1964 Rockford newspapers articles complaining about a teen gang called the “Latin Counts” that aged between 16-20 years old and were committing several random violent crimes involving several beatings and stabbings and even murder. In one 1963 article it was mentioned that gang members had “fancy membership cards” were confiscated that listed ten gang members on the card with phone numbers. Having ten members says to me the gang was just starting in Rockford, also the “fancy” cards sounds just like the real Latin Counts of Chicago because all through history the Latin Counts always had good looking cards, drawings, colors and symbols. As I combed through these articles, I couldn’t help but notice all but one gang member had Italian last names. One 20-year-old member was Hispanic in a 1964 article. In the November 1, 1963, article three of the ten original Rockford Latin Counts were arrested for randomly destroying a youths car at Skeet Drive Inn Restaurant and beating the youth when he tried to stop them from bashing out his car windows. The incident was supposedly not provoked. Two seemingly related Latin Counts were arrested named Philip J. Leombruni, 17, known as “Moco,” Ricardo Leombruni, 16 known as “Stovepipe,” and Joseph Massetti, 19, known as “Flaco.” The Leombruni cousins were addressed on Rockford’s notorious southwest side, Massetti lived in downtown area in a home that no longer exists. If it is the same men, I found the possible obituary for all three men. Two of them lived in Rockford their whole lives and became family men and good men. Philip Leombruni became a Reverend and was loved the community before he died at 70 in 2016. His cousin Ricardo retired to Florida until he died at 71 in 2019. Joe Massetti was a family man that loved fishing and stayed in Rockford until he passed at 68 in 2012. It is possible these are not the same men but if not, it is a hell of a coincidence. This goes to show that just because you get into bad stuff as a teen you can still lead a better life in later years.

In 1964, Rockford continued to report on a “Latin Counts” gang within the Italian community. On August 29, 1964, the newspapers reported that five “Latin Counts” stabbed a Loves Park youth in a rivalry between Loves Park gangs and Rockford gangs. All five members had Italian last names that were involved in the stabbing. One of those involved continued to live in Rockford until he died at age 63 in 2011. The gang member went on to live a peaceful life and became religious and cherished “all living creatures” according to his obituary. On September 11, 1964 the “Latin Counts” were in the papers again as member Louis Sassali, 17, was arrested and charged with grand theft after he was fighting with another gang and drinking alcohol by the State Street bridge. Sassali pulled out a chrome plated pistol and threatened another youth with it until police arrived and he tossed the gun in the river. Sassali admitted to breaking into an apartment at 4400 East Ridge Drive to steal a cache of guns alongside another youth. At the scene another self-admitted “Latin Count” named Stephen M. Gregg was charged with underage drinking and assault. Sassali, if it is the same man, grew out of the gang life and raised a family in Rockford until he died in 2023 at age 76. He also became a good man and had just this incident but was part of the original Rockford Latin Counts.

In a January 29, 1964, Rockford newspaper, the Latin Counts were complained about for causing violence by attacking random youths and pointed out an attack on Van Wie Avenue. The article states that these Counts randomly attacked youths for no reason. This likely a result of these Counts being told big stories about 18^th Street in Chicago and trying to act out much of that violence. The real purpose of the Latin Counts was perhaps lost to these Rockford youths who just thought being excessively violent was the way to be a true Latin Count. I am not positive if the Rockford Counts came out of Little Village or Pilsen but I suspect they branched from Little Village because 18^th Street influence would likely have not involved random violence on civilians. The Little Village group was white and known for being violent in the early 60s as was this Rockford group. After 1964, the Rockford Latin Counts seemed to vanish and the currently Latin Counts that started in the 90s in Rockford seem to not be tied to the early 60s Rockford Counts.

In the 1970s, the Latin Counts become one the bigger gangs in Pilsen and became deeper enemies with Ambrose that was the other larger gang in East Pilsen.

In the year 1970, the Bishops, Latin Brothers and Racine Boys formed on the streets of Pilsen. The Latin Counts immediately established a tight alliance with these groups especially the Bishops. The main reason for the alliance was because Bishops and Latin Counts came from the same family, also they mutually hated Latin Kings, Satan Disciples and Ambrose. The Latin Counts and Bishop alliance was called the BCN or Bishop Count Nation. Later there would be the LLBCN that included the Laflin Lovers that formed later.

The Latin Counts opened territory in 1975 in the Lawndale Gardens projects located at 25th and California in the Marshall Square neighborhood. This section would last until about 1985 as Counts here battled Latin Kings and Satan Disciples viciously. This section appears to have no ties to the white Latin Counts of the early 60s by 23^rd and Whipple.

The Latin Counts became a heavily recognized organization by 1978 which brought a prison alliance with Latin Kings and African American gangs. The Counts were invited to join the Nation of the Peoples alliance it formed in 1981. Vice Lords were the main group that sponsored Latin Counts into the People alliance; hence, why Latin Counts and Vice Lords are tight, mainly Conservative Vice Lords. This alliance drew up a truce with long time enemies the Latin Kings and brought a relationship with north side gangs and African American gangs.

The Counts would open their largest out of state section in the city of Detroit Michigan in the 1980s that became massive by the later part of the decade, this became one of their most prominent strongholds.

In the year 1981, a member of the 18th Street Latin Counts from Pilsen moved to the intersection of 87th and Houston in the South Chicago neighborhood. A few other Latin Counts moved out there in 1983 and this began an organizing of a new section. These Counts were there when the Spanish Gangster Disciples formed near that intersection, but the Counts didn’t begin a section yet when SGDs formed. The Counts out here hung out with the Latin Dragons during these years. In the year 1983, these Counts began to recruit at Bowen High School, and they began congregating at 91st and Brandon and on 88th and Escanaba. Each group was small in size and didn’t really get along so they couldn’t come together as one group of Counts. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Counts began to organize a full section at 91st and Commercial which would become a major Latin Count stronghold for many years to come as they expanded into a larger area in the neighborhood as the Latin Counts conquered all down Commercial Avenue from 91st into South Deering to 103rd. Eventually the Counts here would spread into South Deering in Trumbull Park and by Veterans Memorial Park as they conquered all down Commercial Avenue.

In the year 1990, Latin Counts came to the suburb of Romeoville. These Counts took over southern part of town near Romeoville High School and became hard core members. I grew up in this town and personally saw how down these guys could be. At one time the Romeoville Counts were deep as they viciously battled Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples and Two Six in the village. The Romeoville Counts were started by a 18^th Street Latin Count and were a force to be reckoned with. The downfall of the Romeoville Counts came in 1996 when the village began major crackdowns on gangs and since the Romeoville Counts made so much noise the police mostly shut them down. Members grew out of gang life but still represent the nation. The spirit of the Romeoville Counts is still in the hearts of some members from the 90s.

In about 1990, the Latin Counts opened a section at 14^th Ave and Park Side Ave in the Chicago Heights suburb. This was on the south side of Chicago Heights in a mostly Hispanic area. The area nearby was dominated by many Latin Kings for about a decade prior, so this was tough territory to capture especially with several African American gangs just north of the area. The Chicago Heights Latin Counts were not welcomed by Latin Kings and a war immediately erupted that was so severe that both organizations went to war with each other as a whole all because of the clashing in Chicago Heights. Latin Counts grew to take over the whole southeast side of Chicago Heights in the 1990s until too many legal issues caused the Counts to only retain 14^th and Park Ave area, the rest of the Count territory by Wentworth and 22^nd now was taken over by more Latin Kings around the year 2000 as the Counts that were from there moved to Crete. The Counts still remain in the 14^th and Park Ave area and this has become a permanent chapter.

The Counts would also expand into the suburbs beginning 1992 as they opened in the suburb of Cicero at Roosevelt and 18^th and Austin down to 58^th Ave in an area known as “The Red Zone” in 1992. This became the biggest suburban Latin Count section. The Red Zone Counts became notorious and even grew to dominate the suburb by the later 1990s. These Counts would assist the startup of Berwyn Latin Counts in the 80s.

The Counts would also migrate into West Chicago, Chicago Heights and Romeoville by the later 1980s until they became the second largest Hispanic People nation gang in the Chicago land area.

In the year 1990, the Latin Counts began to have severe quarrels with the Latin Kings in the city and in the suburbs of Chicago Heights and Addison. The beef between both gangs erupted in full scale war in 1991.

In the year 1992, Don Juan “Benny” Rios moved to Cicero at the age of 14 and got acquainted with the Twelfth Street Players at Roosevelt and Austin. Rios was the founder of Cicero Latin Counts. The Twelfth Street Players then offered up territory by Parkholm Park by 18th and 51st and eventually the Counts spread to Roosevelt down 18th then down to 58th Avenue in an area known as “The Red Zone.” The Counts engaged in vicious gang wars in Cicero against the Latin Kings and all the Folk alliance gangs. in the year 1994 war began with the Twelfth Street Players as Counts became very powerful in Cicero becoming one of the dominating forces.

In 1992, Latin Counts made their way deeper into the suburbs when the Counts landed in Addison, Villa Park and Bellwood. The Latin Counts that settled in the Michael Lane apartments in Addison were a really down group that fought the Latin Kings viciously for the apartments until the Latin Kings and Be Be Kings withdrew in 1995. The Counts ran Michael Lane for decades and were one of Addison’s most notorious gangs. Latin Counts were also strong in Villa Park for some time in the 1990s in the “Townies” apartments area on North Avenue, this group left in the 2000s. Latin Counts established themselves in Bellwood in 1992 at the intersection of Englewood and St. Charles Road, this section of Counts is still active.

Latin Count territory has remained intact in Pilsen, South Deering, Mckinley Park, South Chicago, Addison and Cicero and perhaps will never fold. Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, Marquette Park closed due to keeping focus on stronger sections.

The BCN remained strong into the 1990s until 1992 a major challenge came that would begin a disruption of the BCN. In the year 1992 as the Latin King and Latin Count war became even worse the Bishops made a very tough decision to draw a truce with the Latin Kings and no longer fight the Kings alongside the Counts, the Bishops now stayed out of the war. In the year 1995 the Bishops took their alliance with the Latin Kings further when the Latin Kings demanded the BCN be put to an end or face ending their relationship. The Bishops chose the bigger gangs and ended the BCN with the Counts, this caused animosity between Counts and Bishops; however, war did not begin yet. Tensions built especially after Counts witnessed Kings and Bishops being close. On one January day in 1996 Bishops and Counts got into a heated argument at a party. he Bishops would not calm down after the altercation and later that night one of the Bishops strolled to the outside of the Latin Count gang members’ home and shouted disrespectful things about the Latin Counts then started shooting at the house but did not hit his intended target instead he shot the gang members’ girlfriend in the chest, she died instantly. Later on that night a Latin Count named “Rhino” gunned down a Bishop named “Chuco” to avenge the death of the Counts’ girlfriend. This started a vicious war between Bishops and Counts that would live on until present day.

The Latin Counts began as a club of members that were often along the same bloodline and their family would grow to include members not of the same blood but still cherished as such. This strong brotherhood has made the Latin Counts thrive for many years as one of the oldest street gangs in Chicago history giving them a strong heritage. The brotherhood and sense of strong pride has been passed down through the generations. Family and close friends started the original Latin Counts, which these days are known as Senior Counts, younger branches from the early 60s until today still exist. From the Senior Counts, Latin Counts, Junior Counts, Little Latin Counts and Pee Wee Counts to what is now known as the Almighty Insane Latin Count Nation.

What started originally in Pilsen now exists in many parts of Illinois and Detroit Michigan.