Latin Kings

The actual founders of the Latin Kings were King Rory and King Phil with King Phil as the founder. There have been many legends around how the Latin Kings were founded but most of the foundation was with King Phil. In the year 1952 King Phil moved to Chicago in the Near West Side community at the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and Hoyne Avenue in a mostly African American neighborhood. This was the same neighborhood as the storied Laflin and Van Buren section but he never organized anything at or near Laflin and Van Buren, the President’s Row community was just where he came from when he first arrived in the United States from Puerto Rico.

In the year 1958, King Phil moved to the Noble Square neighborhood in the Eckhart Park area around Noble Street and Chestnut Street. The neighborhood at the time was mostly Irish and Italian and this area was close to the newly formed Gaylords in the Grand Avenue and Noble Street area. Gaylords were made up of mostly Italian and Polish youths with some Mexican members. Gaylords were against large groups of Puerto Ricans moving into the West Town area and Eckhart Park was a known Gaylord hangout. Granted, the Gaylords did not claim Eckhart Park, but it was their favorite park, which was documented by social services in 1961. Now that Puerto Rican youths were hanging out there it caused a stir. When Phil and his family first moved to the park the Gaylords were just getting organized as an official club while other mostly white gangs were just getting started in the area like C-Notes, Chi-West and the Playboys (PVP), all founded in 1958. At the time there was racial and cultural clashing in the Eckhart Park area which happened to be the border area between Italian, Polish, Irish, Mexican, Ukrainian neighborhoods making Eckhart Park a little dangerous due to increasing gang activity. Multiple Puerto Rican gangs were forming around Eckhart Park which further angered groups like the Gaylords. When Phil moved to Eckhart Park in ‘58 he joined a gang/club called the “Aces.” Right away the Aces were heavily outnumbered and losing a gang war with mostly white gangs. In the same year of 1958 Phil had an idea to change the club’s name to “Skulls” to install fear and intimidation into their enemies which would also increase their recruitment and cause more clubs to want to become allies with the Skulls. The name worked and their numbers increased as now they were one of the toughest gangs in Eckhart Park and they were even documented in March of 1959 by social services documents. There was even a riot that was racially motivated in Eckhart Park in 1958 that involved gang activity.

In the same year of 1958, the Dan Ryan Expressway construction uprooted many people from their homes especially if they lived in what was classified by the city as “slum” buildings. These blighted buildings were homes to the poor and were the most targeted for demolition by the city. Hispanic people and African American people were the most displaced during this construction which had caused many Puerto Ricans to move to Eckhart Park but also many African American and Puerto Rican families would arrive in Humboldt Park area for the first time.

Humboldt Park has an East Humboldt Park neighborhood which is in West Town while there is a West Humboldt Park neighborhood too. Both neighborhoods are adjoined with the actual Humboldt Park public park serving as the border between the neighborhoods. West Humboldt Park was a heavily Italian and Jewish neighborhood in 1958 while East Humboldt Park was Polish, Scandinavians, Jewish, Italian and Germans. Germans and Polish seemed to be the largest group in East Humboldt Park.

Garfield Park area was racially changing at the time becoming increasingly African American with some Puerto Rican people as well and the migration was spreading further north in the East Garfield Park area to the Ferdinand Street/Franklin Boulevard border. East Garfield Park was slowly racially changing since the late 40s, but it would accelerate after the Dan Ryan displacement as this affordable neighborhood became ideal for displaced families to take up residence. Garfield Park was mostly Jewish at the time and the Jews often served as landlords and were very accommodating to African Americans when other cultures did not want African Americans in their communities especially if the African Americans were poor. This is how African Americans were able to move within every part of East Garfield Park by the late 50s; however, north of the Humboldt Park border up to Chicago Avenue experienced a loss in home value and redlining by 1958 because this southern part of the community was so close to East Garfield Park. Since East Garfield Park was becoming majority African American West Humboldt Park up to Chicago Avenue began losing value and white flight began. This caused many white West Humboldt Park residents to become very guarded over the Chicago Avenue border and many white gangs formed that had “Chicago Avenue” in their name. These clubs had names like: Chicago and Lawndale, Chicago Avenue Gang, Harding Drakers (from Chicago and Harding). I am not positive if any of the listed clubs engaged in racially motivated gang activity, but it was highly likely, if not, other gangs in that area sure did. According to the 1960 U.S. census all of Humboldt Park was 1% black which was not only the classification of West Humboldt Park but also East Humboldt Park as both were considered “Humboldt Park” back then, this meant the 1% black population was everything from Bloomingdale Trail to Ferdinand/Franklin and from Western Avenue to Kostner Avenue. Back in 1960 the census did not track the Hispanic/Latino population; therefore, it is unknown the percentage of Hispanic people in Humboldt Park as of 1960 but according to local legends and the people that lived in these communities at the time Puerto Rican people were moving into two areas of Humboldt Park by 1958 and one of those was Chicago Avenue area heading south. Garfield Park area had a Puerto Rican settlement along Madision Street called “La Madison” in these days that extended all the way to West Garfield Park, this can explain how and why Puerto Ricans became interested in the southern West Humboldt Park area as it was near La Madison. When the Puerto Rican populace arrived by 1958, they were not welcomed and endured racial conflict. Puerto Rican youths began to gather at Kedzie Avenue and Ohio Street in the late 50s banding together to fight several different African American and white gangs. This group began calling themselves the “Kedzie and Ohio Boys,” this group was formed by 1963. By this time in history many landlords were buying larger houses in this area for cheap because white people were fleeing so fast they didn’t bother getting the full value of their homes, which allowed predatory slumlords to purchase these buildings at a reduced rate and rent tenement style apartments to impoverished blacks and Hispanics for higher rents than whites while dividing these former houses into apartment buildings. Many migrating Puerto Ricans lived in these buildings and there were many for rent in the Kedzie and Ohio area. Samuel Morse elementary school (Now Polaris Academy) was located just a block away and these Kedzie and Ohio Boys protected Hispanic youths trying to go to school.

In either the same year of 1958 or perhaps 1959, another Puerto Rican settlement was developed in East Humboldt Park in the northern half of the community in the mostly Polish and German area. Many Puerto Rican families were moving near the intersection of Maplewood Avenue and Wabansia Avenue and would congregate in Maplewood Park. Puerto Rican families were moving here after being displaced by the Dan Ryan then another wave arrived by 1959 displaced by the Old Town (La Clark) settlement (North Ave and Clark Street) that was razed in 1959 for the Carl Sandburg luxury condos. The notorious “Hachas Viejas” settled in this area which included some of their main members and founders. Hachas Viejas was a group of much older Puerto Rican men that moved as a group that protected the Puerto Rican community and most of their settlement was in Old Town. When Old Town settlement was demolished, they spread out further in the city, they would retain influence in Humboldt Park but since most of the racial conflicts were at the youth level, the Viejas were aged out of the main conflict. Instead the Puerto Rican youths organized their own gang to defend the community called the “Noble Knights,” don’t get it twisted, this is not the same Noble Knights as the white guys that formed the Almighty Noble Knights in Cicero in the 70s, this was a Puerto Rican group from northern East Humboldt Park that was present in the Puerto Rican community from North Avenue to Division Street and from Humboldt Park to Western Avenue. Noble Knights stood up to gangs like the Jokers of Cortez and Washtenaw and Simon City from Drake and Wabansia. The Jokers were mean and tough and were even considered one of the toughest gangs in Chicago according to the Chicago Tribune that compared them to the Black P Stones and Disciples street gangs.  Jokers were often quite racist and did not appreciate impoverished Hispanic people residing just north of their borders.  Jokers often did not allow Hispanics to cross Division Street, nor would they allow Hispanics or blacks to cross Sacramento Boulevard. Jokers were strong allies with gangs like Chi-West and the two teamed up to fight Hispanic gangs causing Hispanic gangs to struggle to find alliances against these groups. Simon City was situated in the northern part of West Humboldt Park near the borders of East Humboldt Park and Logan Square. Simon City was mostly Italian and were no fans of Puerto Rican migration to that area. Simon City was just as tough and dangerous as the Jokers, and they often met in East Humboldt Park north of Division to do battle with the jokers. The Jokers and Simon City were both formed in 1956 so by the time Puerto Rican people arrived these gangs were already well established and had the advantage over Puerto Rican youths, this was why the Noble Knights formed. Jokers and Simon City would fight it out then they would take out more of their aggressions on Hispanic youths along the way.

Beginning in the late 50s Puerto Ricans and Cubans began moving to the Wicker Park area for the first time. When Castro took over Cuba in 1959, several refugees fled Cuba arriving in the United States and some came to Chicago settling along Milwaukee Avenue between Wicker Park and Bucktown (Logan Square). These Hispanic youths faced heavy racial discrimination and hate from this mostly German, Irish and Polish population. Since their arrival Hispanic youths fought against white gang, Leavitt and Schiller may have been settled by the ”Imperials” gang and legend has it that Jose “Cadillac Joe” Rivera may have joined them before becoming Latin King at age 12.  Leavitt and Schiller would become a pivotal area for Latin King history which I will get to a little later.

As the early 60s unfolded, Phil and the Skulls began to overcome their opposition that outnumbered them so much. The white gangs in the area had large numbers and the only thing that kept the Skulls alive was the fact that these white gangs were not unified yet and since the Skulls were the toughest of all the gangs in Eckhart Park they could not be destroyed by the white gangs individually. The Gaylords could never capture Eckhart Park, and this made the Gaylords frustrated. By 1963, the Gaylords were so deep that much of the Hispanic community began referring to them as the “Polish Mafia” because of how large and dangerous they were. Gaylords victimized Hispanic youths all through Humboldt Park and West Town and often restricted Hispanic youths from playing in Humboldt Park and beat them down along California Street. The Skulls became victorious over white gangs in one incident which led to white gangs nearly killing Phil in the streets during a brutal attack. The white gangs did not stop and instead formed a unity in the summer of 1963 which calmed down the wars between Gaylords, C-Notes and Lazy Gents, the P.V.P alliance was also coming together at that time. The white gangs then threatened to burn down every building Puerto Rican people lived in if the Skulls did not leave. In that same summer of ‘63 Phil connected with the Ohio and Kedzie Boys and met Freddy Avilez to form an alliance because the Ohio and Kedzie Boys were part of this same conflict with the same gangs and the same people. The last step to forming this alliance was to decide on an effective name and the Skulls felt their name was the best. Freddie and the boys did not want the Skulls name and one of the boys was a 14-year-old named “Cookie.” Cookie was the one that came up with the name “Latin Kings.” I strongly believe Cookie got the idea for the name from a previous “Latin Kings” group that existed earlier in the 60s that was linked to King Papo, I have a separate page for that.  The summer of 1963 story was also proven in a 1969 Rising Up Angry article that mentioned the “Kings of Ohio and Spaulding” (close enough to Ohio and Kedzie) came together with an unmentioned group to form Latin Kings and could not decide on the name and they nominated “Nando” as their leader.  Rising Up Angry interviewed 1969 Latin Kings for this article and it mostly matches the legend around King Phil with small differences. Because of the threat to burn down every Puerto Rican household and the personal threats made to Phil and his family, Phil needed to relocate to Wicker Park and landed at Leavitt and Schiller and this is when the story of Leavitt and Schiller began.

On Friday, May 15, 1964, Chicago experienced a hot weather day as the temperatures reached 83 degrees and Phil and his friends met at the Association House located in West Humboldt Park at Kedzie and Haddon Avenue. The Association house was exactly one block away from Division and Kedzie. These were the Skulls and Ohio and Kedzie Boys that used the suggestion made by Cookie to create the “Latin Kings” on that warm sunny Friday after school let out for the week. At the Association House the name “Skulls” and “Latin Kings” was up for a vote by a show of raised hands, most of the hands were raised for “Latin Kings” which included Phil. Freddie was now “King Freddie” and he would lead the Ohio and Kedzie branch now known as the “Ohio and Kedzie Kings.” King Phil would be in charge of Leavitt and Schiller, which would also serve as the headquarters for the Latin Kings, his co-founder and co-leader was King Rory. Many of the Latin Kings of Leavitt and Schiller lived across the street from John’s Tavern that was at 2153 W. Schiller (Tavern closed in 1966).  The Latin King apartment building was also located directly across the street from Sabin Elementary. Original members were mostly Puerto Rican but there were also some Mexican members, African American members, Polish members, German members, Italian members and even one Japanese member, these were the original Latin Kings.

The original Latin Kings often took diplomatic approaches to dealing with other gangs in the mid-60s and even hung out with Playboys (P.V.Ps) in certain parts of West Town.  Latin Kings tried to work with other Hispanic gangs like Young Sinners, Young Lords, Spanish Kings, Scorpions, Latin Angels, Paragons and became tightest with the Warlords of Wicker Park.  It is said that F.A.L.N members may have lived at Leavitt and Schiller that befriended Latin Kings. Latin Kings would have relations with F.A.L.N but not when F.A.L.N committed terrorist acts, Latin Kings kept their distance from that activity and just had a simple relationship or drinking some beers together on the porch and Latin Kings would never engage in terrorist activities…ever. The only influence they may have gained from F.A.L.N would be revolutionary ideas at best but no anti-American sentiment.

The Latin Kings were now there to protect Hispanic youths that became bullied and beaten as they crossed the neighborhoods, got on or off a school bus, walked to the store, tormented in school, and having their lunch money taken.  Latin Kings intervened with crooked landlords and stood against discrimination that adult Hispanics faced in daily life.  Latin Kings also watched the cops closely and intervened if the cops were harassing people or harming people.  The Latin Kings became the guardians of the streets they resided on and protectors of those more vulnerable.  Latin Kings also watched crime in the community and made sure it stayed out of their territory.  Overall, the Latin Kings were mainly there to protect the poor no matter what race because overall discrimination targeted the most impoverished.  The original Latin Kings put together three original principles.

The first three principles the original Latin Kings lived by was and still is:

1.  Protect our families.

2.  Protect our neighborhoods.

3.  Protect each other.

In 1964, no documents or newspapers had even picked up on Latin Kings until a news article in the Tribune called out the Latin Kings for being involved in a stabbing in 1965 near Gaylord turf.  Members addresses were from Kedzie and Ohio and one downtown area address and a West Garfield Park address. The Latin King from West Garfield Park would have branched out from Kedzie and Ohio.  There were original Latin Kings from the Garfield Park area.  Original member Don Juan himself was from East Garfield Park in his youth.

When the Latin Kings first began in 1964, they hung out regularly at a restaurant called “Mom & Pops” that was right across from Sabin Elementary School near Leavitt and Schiller.  This restaurant had a jukebox.  Very soon after, the Latin Kings opened their very first club house two buildings north of the restaurant in a basement that they called “PETES.”  It was in this very club house where the first Latin King crown was drawn up in the fall of 1965 and where the Latin Queens were founded that year by a Polish girl named Laura.

Ashland & Cortez, Crystal & Damen

Another original branch was in East Village at the intersection of Noble and Cortez which was started by a Leavitt and Schiller Latin King named Michael Perez in 1964.  Harrison Gents moved to East Village the same year and an instant rivalry developed over Ashland Street.  The Playboys were not far away and clashed with these Latin Kings as well.  Noble and Cortez Latin Kings battled Gaylords fiercely as well. Playboys were one of the biggest rivals of Leavitt and Schiller Latin Kings.  In 1965 the Noble and Cortez corner was given to the younger members and the seniors opened Ashland and Cortez.  This section lasted until 1971 when all East Village Ashland and Cortez Latin Kings moved to Crystal and Damen in Wicker Park.  Ashland and Cortez may have been short lived, but it was legendary and the Latin Kings there were down members.

Many legends have surrounded Juan (Some say Ramon) “King Papo” Santos as the founder of the Latin Kings at Laflin and Van Buren. Santos was a leader in many ways. Santos and his closest friends hung out in front of a store that used to be at that corner and many members lived in a large yellow building on that corner that had many apartments. Members like Santos and “Bald Spot Slim” dined at the Greasy Spoon restaurant that was once at Laflin and Van Buren. The 1954 legend likely traces to Santos as does Laflin and Van Buren. Santos for sure resided at Laflin and Van Buren as did “Weasel,” Santo’s brother Edwardo “Fast Eddie” Gonzalez, Santo’s cousin Billy Roman. There was no evidence of any group named “Latin Kings” in the Laflin and Van Buren area on records. Clear legends don’t even begin about these Latin Kings until 1964 which is when Santos and his closest guys became part for of ALKN. King Phil and Santos were not very connected and Laflin and Van Buren was not considered a section of the ALKN in the mid-60s.

24Th & Marshall Boulevard (The Boulevards)

In about May of 1966, the Boulevards Latin Kings were established as Don Juan ventured to the Little Village community and was appointed to lead these Latin Kings. These Latin Kings had deep roots to the Near West Side from the University Village area. Their original homes were demolished in 1962 which prompted them to move to 24th and Marshall BLVD in Little Village. When they arrived they called themselves the “MarKings” or “Marshall Boulevard Kings.” This group may have descended from the Royal Kings that once dominated the University Village area in the very early 60s according to police records the NGCRC researcher George Knox had discovered (https://www.ngcrc.com/ngcrc/page15.htm). Knox seems to think there could have been a link to the Boulevards of the Royal Kings and Royal Kings were congregating in the nearby Pilsen area between 1960-1962 until they went extinct in 1962 once the construction displaced them. In the Jinx book “Compliments of Chicagohoodz: Chicago Street Gang Art & Culture” there is a sketch made by a youth that grew up in University Village (Little Italy) and in 1962 he drew a sketch of the streets and labeled them by gangs that claimed each corner. At Roosevelt Road and Newberry, he wrote “Markings” but did not indicate any “Royal Kings” but MarKings were operating in the heart of Royal King turf which says to me Royal Kings may have become MarKings in 62. According to legends the MarKings formed in 1962 at the Boulevards and then they turned Latin Kings in 1966 officially. This was the birth of the Boulevards Latin Kings and it became the third section of Latin Kings in history. I am not sure but I believe King Phil and King Rory were still in charge at this time and may have authorized this and sent Don Juan. Some say King Papo brought the Latin Kings to the Boulevards but there is no detailed stories of this that are credible and most stories point to Don Juan and everyone agrees Don Juan was the first leader of the Boulevards.

When the Latin Kings started in the Boulevards right as the summer of 66 was about to start many newest members were not only former MarKings, members of the Supreme Cliques, 23rd Street Boys and 26th Street Jokers. These gangs were white and Hispanic and both white and Hispanic members would join the Latin Kings. The Gaylords that once ruled Little Village all left for Vietnam by 1966 making room for Latin Kings to take over but migrating gangs from other areas would test the Latin Kings like Harrison Gents, Artistics, Morgan Deuces and Satan Disciples. Gangs like the Sin City Boys formed in 1966 to fight Latin Kings. The biggest gang besides Latin Kings to form in 1966 was the Ridgeway Lords but RLs and Latin Kings became best friends fighting against all the other gangs. Latin Kings would even cross into the suburb of Cicero in 1966 and start a small chapter there founded by “Serbian John” at Johnny’s Top Hat nightclub formerly at 22nd and Cicero Ave, which was an Italian mobster hangout. Serbian John was a pimp and did prostitution business with the mob. This section in Cicero went defunct in the early 70s but these earliest Latin Kings in Cicero were the first suburban Latin Kings in history and were the first to establish relations with the Arch Dukes of Cicero and get in good graces with the mainly white community in Cicero for later settlement, I theorize these Latin Kings branched from the Boulevards.

The earliest original big time Latin Kings from 24th and Marshall were Scarface, Dino, Don Juan, Black Sal, White Sal, Crazy Man and Little Boy.  Don Juan (DJ) was given leadership of the Boulevard Latin Kings even though he was from the north.  24th and Marshall was a prime location for the headquarters because it would allow children to attend Harrison High School and Spry Elementary especially since many kids were bussed in from the Near West Side in various gangs from outside the neighborhood.  I am not positive on how long Don Juan was running the Boulevards, but I think it was short lived until Dino took over until 1972, that is unless Dino and Don Juan are the same person?  “The Boulevards” would later give birth to several later Latin King branches in the city and suburbs that can trace their origin to this section.  This section branched out heavily over the years and became the governing location for south side Latin King sections city-wide and heavily represented the Mexican Latin Kings while up north was more for Puerto Ricans.  The Little Village chapter took in many white members and outside of 24th and Marshall almost half of Latin Kings were white in the 1960s because the community remained majority white into the 1970s.

Beach & Spaulding

In the year 1966, south of Chicago Avenue in West Humboldt Park was becoming increasingly African American and the Puerto Rican community did not relate to this change; therefore, they began migrating north of Chicago Avenue into the Division and Kedzie area which was previously forbidden by the mostly Italian community, now that white flight ran its course in the area, Puerto Rican people made their move. Freddie and the Kedzie and Ohio Latin Kings moved alongside this migration landing at Division and Kedzie but they especially liked Beach and Spaulding. The Noble Knights already dominated the area and protected the older Puerto Rican settlement displaced by UIC. Kedzie and Ohio Latin Kings encouraged the Noble Knights to flip to Latin Kings and history was made as the Knights accepted and went defunct now that they were Kings. I am not sure if King Phil and Rory were still around at this time and authorized this or not. During the same year Maplewood Park area in East Humboldt Park became Latin Kings too after those Noble Knights also flipped but that group was for sure not connected to Phil as that group was ran by Julio “Compa” Munoz and headquartered at Maplewood and Wabansia. This group was likely branched from Laflin and Van Buren Latin Kings at first since Compa was running it.

King Phil and King Rory may not have been leading the Latin Kings any longer by 1966 because it was said that both these men went away from Chicago for awhile to become working family men staying away from trouble. When they left the Latin Kings were a small club that was mainly in West Town and Humboldt Park areas only and when they returned year later they were shocked at how large the organization had become. I am not sure exactly when these men departed from leadership but it appears to be by 1966 when the Division riots were going on because after the riots Latin Kings began their conquest to take over much of the city and this is when the legends of Juan (Ramon) Santos take over. Many say Santos is the founder of the nation and others say King Phil, it seems more like there is truth in both men but for the ALKN that goes to Phil, Santos founded another older group that was brought into the ALKN Latin Kings on their own then after Phil and Rory left the older Latin Kings under Papo took over leadership of the ALKN. Santos himself never claimed to be the founder of the ALKN according to Joseph “Lil Rat” Carrillo, a Harrison Gent that was King Papo’s personal body guard in prison in the mid-80s, he also did not link NYC to the Kings either when talking to Carrillo. Santos was a Latin King leader for some time but does not appear to be the main founder but still has a piece of the foundation due to leading a previous group that called themselves “Latin Kings” before the ALKN was birthed but they are not the same Latin Kings as each other. If Santos called them the “Latin Kings” as far back as 1954 it was never linked or used by the Latin Kings of Leavitt and Schiller. There are zero police files and zero social services files for a “Latin Kings” prior to 1964, but the “Skulls” name is certified and documented. The story of King Phil matches several Chicago events that include coinciding with Hispanic migration and the history of white gangs in the area too. Social services workers attached to the Hispanic gangs of East Village in the late 50s also recall racial tensions and the 1958 riot which further strengthens the King Phil story. The founding story of Santos is all over the place and does not coincide well with many Chicago events which leads me to believe Santos is 100% real but somehow the stories behind him were told wrong and misconstrued and we cannot get the story from him because he was killed by his own kind in 1988. King Phil and King Rory are still alive and well into their 70s in age. I will do my best to keep Santos’ legends alive on my Laflin and Van Buren Latin King page but his legend does not appear to overlap or wipe over the legacy of King Phil as the founder and Santos did not found the ALKN. It is very possible Santos spread the “Latin Kings” name onto the streets from New York in the 1950s but it never solidified into the nation we know today and was gone by 1960 but he became a part of the nation after Phil formed the ALKN Latin Kings and became a leader at points in time which is perhaps why he is regarded as the founder because his ideals might pre-date Phil but those ideals went extinct before Phil.

Santos dated King Barlos’ sister from Leavitt and Schiller in the mid-60s which is likely what brought Santos to Leavitt and Schiller and he began sharing more of his knowledge and his stories of protecting the Hispanic population of the Laflin and Van Buren area from African American gangs. From what I gather, by the time Santos was coming around Leavitt and Schiller in 1966 Phil and Rory seemed to have departed at that point and Santos saw an opening for leadership of the ALKN. Since Santos had such a deep history with Latin King concepts he became a fit for leadership and he had stories to tell that could easily lead young members at Leavitt and Schiller to believe he was the founder. Future big timer Latin Kings were coming up at Leavitt and Schiller like Gustavo “Lord Gino” Colon and Jose “Cadillac Joe” Rivera who were just 14 years old at the time, Santos was about 26 years old at the time.

In the year 1964, the Latin Kings bopped heads with one of their future biggest allies the Young Lords and war ensued that lasted two years until the Young Lords became passive activists and were no longer interested in neighborhood control.  That two-year war came to an end on June 12, 1966, when the Division Street riots were happening.  A Puerto Rican man was gunned down unjustly by Chicago Police so Young Lords and Latin Kings stormed the streets rioting against the police over human rights. King Papo, Eddie LB, Bronco, and King Tiger along with the Young Lords drew an alliance on this day and from there on became allies once again.  It was this very day on June 12, 1966, that the Latin Kings first made the news all over the United States and perhaps globally.  This enhanced recruitment and public awareness and of course law enforcement became more aware of the Latin Kings.

Maplewood & Wabansia

After the Latin Kings flipped the Noble Knights in 1966, the Latin Kings inherited all of the former Noble Knight turf that encompassed North Avenue to Division and from Western Ave to Humboldt Park.  The heart of this region would be Maplewood and Wabansia.  Original Latin Kings owned a pop, chips, sandwich and candy shop at Hirsch and Rockwell right across from Von Humboldt School.  This shop also had a Latin King club house on the second floor above the shop.  Legend has it that this section of Latin Kings allowed the original Maniac Latin Disciples to operate peacefully when they formed in 1966 which would help the Disciples grow and flourish until both organizations went to war in later years.  What upset the Jokers was when Latin Kings were hanging out at Division and California out in front of Moishe Pippick No 2 hot dog and burger shop at 2807 W. Division.  In the year 1976, Julio “Compa” Munoz committed a murder and was put away in prison until he died in prison in 2012. This section would close in 1979 after Spanish Cobras and Maniac Latin Disciples took advantage of Compa’s incarceration for murder but they needed to team up to attack these Latin Kings.  The Latin Kings completely left East Humboldt Park by 1979.  What should not be forgotten is that the Latin Kings/Noble Knights were the first major Hispanic community protectors of East Humboldt after or at the same time as Hachas Viejas.

Conquest of Humboldt Park and West Town

I could be wrong but it seems like the 1966 conquests for Latin King domination of Humboldt Park area and West Town may have been driven by King Papo, I gather this because Rory and Phil were shocked the Latin Kings had become so big when they returned many years later, if they did drive this conquest that would not have been surprised. This was when Latin Kings began fighting against other Hispanic gangs because of the need for domination. One of the first gangs the Latin Kings took apart during the 1966 conquests was the Scorpions (not Latin Scorpions) of Wicker Park from Western and Hirsch. This group was led and founded by Sleepy who was killed by Latin Kings in 1965 forcing the group to disband, in 1966 this group was finished off.

In 1966 the Latin Kings dismantled the Latin Angels from Maplewood and Division in East Humboldt Park.

In 1966 even though the Latin Kings were on good terms with the Paragons from Lincoln Park they became upset with the arrival of the Junior Paragons in East Humboldt Park at Washtenaw and Potomac; therefore, the Latin Kings destroyed them.

In 1966 the Latin Kings also conquered the Young Sinners of Wicker Park.  One of the Sinner’s leaders named Charlie came to Pete’s clubhouse and challenged the Latin Kings all by himself.  Although this move was gutsy it proved to be dangerous and costly.  Charlie was beaten so severely he was hospitalized for two months.  The founder Nelson F also known as Tarzan then disbanded the club.

In 1966 the Latin Kings advanced on the Hirsch Street Lords of West Humboldt Park at Spaulding and Hirsch and did damage to their club.  This gave the Latin Kings leverage to advance up Kedzie to Beach and Spaulding which was a pivotal territorial grab that would advance the Latin Kings toward Beach and Spaulding.  The Hirsch Street Lords were a white gang, and this showed the change in power in West Humboldt Park from white greasers to Latin Kings/Hispanic gangs.  Simon City was operating more in Logan Square by 1966 which further cleared the way for Latin Kings to conquer.

The Latin Kings would also take apart the Spanish Kings from East Humboldt Park in 1966.

In the aftermath of the 1966 conquests the Latin Kings were now able to solidify territory in northern West Humboldt Park. This was also made possible because after the Division Street riots the mostly white community in West Humboldt Park north of Chicago Avenue up to North Ave and from the park to around Central Park Ave panicked in white flight fashion as the white residents left in heavy volume right after the riots.  The riots scared them, and greedy real estate fed that fear and encouraged them to leave for the sake of real estate profit.  In the year 1967, Beach and Spaulding was officially declared the new Humboldt Park Latin King’s center of activity and any Humboldt Park governance took place here.

“Batman” was running Beach and Spaulding when it first opened.  Now all Latin King sections city-wide needed to report to this new section even though Leavitt and Schiller was the headquarters.  Beach and Spaulding became to most legendary north side section in the city with some of the heaviest hitters in the nation.

Armitage & Sheffield

In the summer of 1966, the Young Lords of Lincoln Park declared their gangbanging days were over with.  Although some pockets of the Young Lords would continue to gangbang the main organization was done with that.  Leader Cha Cha Jimenez became revolutionary and became a political figure instead of gangbanger.  This meant the war with Latin Kings was to stop.  The Young Lords now bonded with Latin Kings, and they now understood each other.  The Young Lords now permitted Latin Kings onto their sacred Armitage Avenue as the Latin Kings arrived at Armitage and Dayton without a fight.  This was the exact corner that Cha Cha Jimenez, the Young Lord’s leader resided at the time.  Granted, at this point, the Latin Kings could have taken it without Young Lord permission, but blood shed was preferred to be avoided so diplomacy was a better solution. At first, the Latin Kings came to Armitage and Dayton in 1966 under the guidance of King Richie who was related to Juan (Ramon) Santos.  Richie brought the Latin Kings to Lincoln Park.  Eventually the Latin Kings moved onto Young Lord headquarters at Armitage and Sheffield by 1969 but were invited from the start.  The Latin Kings acted as the muscle for the Young Lords by attending to security duties and assisting the Young Lords with their pursuit of crooked police, slumlords, and unfair neighborhood renewal programs that evicted so many Puerto Rican families out of Lincoln Park.  Latin Kings also would take violent action, if necessary, against unruly gangs in the area that threatened the community, especially racist white gangs because Young Lords wanted to avoid gangbanging. Latin Kings would also ally with the Halsted and Armitage Paragons. The Latin Kings would survive in Lincoln Park until the 1990s when gentrification became large.

Coulter & Damen (Coulter Kings)

In the year 1966, Latin Kings were immediately barred from starting in the Pilsen neighborhood; however, the Kings cliqued up with the Rampants from Pilsen and the Rampants invited the Latin Kings to the Heart of Chicago neighborhood (West Pilsen) that year and the Latin Kings were able to start a new section at Coulter and Damen known as the “Coulter Counts.”  This section of Latin Kings was founded by Abel “Bull” Torres.  This section was renamed “Coulter Kings” in 1968 after several Rampants flipped to Latin Kings that year.  This section was a hard-core section that lasted until 1987.  The Coulter Kings did some branching out before they closed this section that included the notorious 51st and Ada chapter in the Back of the Yards. Although this group not as large as their rivals Ambrose and Latin Counts, they sure were a major force to be reckoned with.

27th & Normal

A lessor known group of earlier south side Latin Kings was the 27th and Normal chapter in Bridgeport that was also started in 1966.  These Latin Kings had a club house at 2702 South Normal Street.  The club house was easily identifiable due a spray painted “Latin King” wording on the door. In 1969, this section had heart break after members were convicted in the court case of People vs. Galvan in which those prosecuted may have been innocent of the charges depending upon how the case is looked at.  This was a gang rape case but was heavily disputed in later court proceedings.  These Latin Kings disbanded in 1969 but this would not the end of Latin Kings in Bridgeport because a new chapter was started in 1978 at 33rd and Morgan.  The 33rd and Morgan Latin Kings would become notorious and strong chapter that still is active today.

57th & Halsted

What needs to not be forgotten is the fact that Latin Kings were once in the Englewood neighborhood arriving in 1966 to protect the Puerto Rican community living in apartments at that intersection. Englewood Latin Kings were mainly protecting Puerto Rican youths from the Devil’s Disciples (Gangster Disciples/Black Disciples) who wanted to advance into northern Englewood in the 60s. Englewood Latin Kings would not get along with other Puerto Rican gangs from this area that were fighting Disciples like Village Sharks and Emerald Knights. In 1968, the Latin Souls formed at 55th and Halsted on the Englewood side who also became heavy enemies with Englewood Latin Kings. These Latin Kings were documented by the Chicago Tribune in the June 11, 1969 article that specifically stated these “Latin Kings” were at 57th and Halsted. This section would close in the mid-70s after the Puerto Rican community left this area and African American gangs took over.

Early involvement in community

In the year 1968 the Latin Kings of West Town and Humboldt Park area began to be featured in the media for their exceptional neighborhood cleanup duties that included cleaning up gang graffiti.  This effort was led by leaders like Don Juan which showed the world the Latin Kings could be an asset to their communities; however, certain branches and members were only concerned with gangbanging, but the founders and leaders were moving on to another level and were trying to help their fellow Latin Kings follow the same path, but with so many members it became impossible.  The Latin Kings continued to make righteous changes and in 1969 they became very much politically active while bringing about diplomacy with other Puerto Rican gangs and white gangs.  This would continue in the earlier 1970s as Latin Kings fought against police brutality, legally pursued crooked landlords, cleaned up communities of trash and graffiti, opened up free lunch programs for impoverished children and fought against unfair neighborhood renewal plans alongside the Young Lords.  These were mostly overlooked functions as most people focused on the gangbanging and negativity.

It wasn’t until 1968 that the stories of Juan (Ramon) Santos become clearer. Santos not only became nation leader he also activated the activist activities of the Latin Kings which helped build members into legitimacy while also giving the nation legitimacy. King Papo was even mentioned in a 1969 Rising Up Angry article that stated, “The year 1969 was the beginning of new image of the Latin Kings. Under the leadership of Papo and Tarzan, they started moving into the political realm with the desire of helping their community in the problems of welfare, education, and health. No more gang bopping. Fight the real enemy. All power to all the people!!”

North & Kedzie, Armitage & Kedzie, Lawrence & Kedzie

 In 1969, Latin Kings migrated to Logan Square alongside Puerto Rican migration into this community.  Logan Square had a slow white flight pattern through the 1960s and during this process many hardened white greaser gangs walked these streets night and day sometimes preying upon Hispanic youths for fun.  Many Logan Square residents did not want their community to change racially like nearby Wicker Park and Humboldt Park; therefore, this community became more racially guarded as the decade progressed.  By the later 1960s the Simon City gang moved into this neighborhood and by the later 60s they became a hostile force against the Latin Kings.  When the Gaylords began heavily recruiting white gangs around the Palmer Square area and around Lawndale and Altgeld area this became the last draw for Hispanic youths and the call for the Latin Kings came as these desperate youths needed protections against the mighty Gaylords.  This is when Latin Kings arrived in this community in 1969 arriving at North Ave and Kedzie and Armitage and Kedzie to battle the Gaylords and other hostile white gangs.  This gang conflict was heated and brutal, but the Latin Kings would outlast the Gaylords and most other rivals and remain permanently on these streets presently making this another major chapter.

Uptown

In the year 1969, residents of Uptown began to complain about the sudden rise in crime and the increasingly squalid conditions of these streets.  What was once a hillbilly harmless ghetto now became a nightmare and soon major gang activity would arrive.  Much of the white Appalachian community was upset with increased Hispanic and African American migration that year and the rise in crime and this invited the Gaylords and the formation of the Uptown Rebels.  These groups were often hostile toward the newest Hispanic and African American arrivals.  African American youths invited the Black Gangster Disciples and Conservative Vice Lords to move into the community to protect African American students attending Senn High School, but these gangs were often hostile toward Hispanic and white youths.  This was time for Latin Kings to be called upon to open a chapter at Winthrop and Ainslie.  Many white and Hispanic youths would join the Latin Kings to fight Gaylords, Uptown Rebels, Kenmore Boys, Black Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords.  These Latin Kings found common ground with the Harrison Gents that arrived at the same time just one block away.  The two gangs were very tight until war tore them apart in 1979.  Latin Kings remain in Uptown permanently.

The end of the King Papo era, new leadership and the manifesto

Since King Papo took over Latin Kings had been involved in the drug trade; however, the drug trade did not run their organization just like all other gangs in the 1960s.  Latin Kings also took pride in flushing out unauthorized drug dealers in their communities by robbing those dealers.  King Papo himself used to rob heroin dealers alongside Spanish Lord leader “Big Gato” in the late 1960s; however, the two men tended to indulge in the heroin they snatched until they both developed addictions. Santos was recalled by another younger Spanish Lord that encountered him and over 100 Latin Kings during a time when the Spanish Lords and Latin Kings were at war in 1968. Santos spared the young man and commended him for bravery. King Papo soon fell into an addiction entering the 1970s and much of the Latin Kings had also fell into addiction which caused the organization to face possible extinction as the sections became more disorganized.

According to court documents, on the night of June 20, 1971 Raul “BK” “Rayo” Gonzales was hanging out at the intersection of 24th and Sacramento in the Marshall Square neighborhood when he spotted Ernesto Villagomez in a car with several other people.  Gonzales then fired bullets into the car and killed the driver causing the car to crash into a building, his intended target survived and only the driver that was shot was killed, the driver was Villagomez’ uncle.  Villagomez had been known to hang out with both Latin Kings and Bishops gang members.  Latin Kings and Bishops were rival gangs at that point in time and BK did not like Ernesto hanging out with Bishops, especially after Ernesto wore a shirt that said “Bishops” on it.  One day outside of Harrison High School BK confronted Villagomez and told him to not wear Bishop clothing, when Ernesto wised off to BK, BK slapped him across the face, Ernesto then threatened revenge on another date, it was at that point that BK marked Villagomez, and on the night of June 20th he killed Villagomez’ uncle as he was driving Ernesto and others home from a dance.  The other car load in front of the uncle’s car was a car full of Bishops gang members and according to court documents those witnesses were affiliated with the Bishops, Gonzales was then charged with murder and sent to prison (People vs. Gonzales, 1974).

According to court documents, on the night of June 27, 1971 Gustavo “Hercules” “Hippie” Colon was hanging out at the intersection of Leavitt and Potomac in the Wicker Park neighborhood that night.  According to court documents Colon and Florentine “Brillo” Menendez spotted Glenn Burr and his sister and friends walking down the street.  Menendez then shouted, “Shoot that black mother fucker!” and pulled a gun on the group of five according to court documents, Glenn Burr then took off running but Colon then shot him three times in the back, killing him.  Colon then walked up to Verlinda Hamilton and put the gun to her head and gave her a big smile then pulled the trigger; however, the gun jammed.  Supposedly the shooting happened because Glenn Burr was a Vice Lord in Latin King territory Colon was not arrested for the crime until August of 1971, Brillo was said to be dead by the time arrests were to be made, Colon was then charged with murder and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison (People vs. Colon, 1974).

In June of 1971, Raul Gonzales and another high-ranking north side member of the Latin Kings Gustavo “Hercules” Colon caught court murder charges back to back.

By 1972, the Latin Kings were facing a major crisis.  Starting in the late 1960s some key members were getting into using heavy drugs like Heroin.  There were also many members that were not focused on tasks at hand and much of the LKN was disorganized, which was a major threat to leadership especially since they were trying to organize a sophisticated syndicate.  Amid several gang wars and now with law enforcement breathing down their necks, there was a real threat to the very existence of the Latin King Nation and slip ups by members could not be tolerated anymore; it was time for a constitution to keep the entire organization in line.  Now that Hercules and Rayo were incarcerated for murder, they had an immediate meeting behind prison walls with Manuel Diaz Rodriguez, Johnny Martinez, Eddie, Dino, and Sun Child.  These 7 Latin Kings drew up the “Kings Manifesto” which was literature that was to guide and organize Latin Kings in the right direction to ease operations and maintain order.  One of the biggest guidelines was no use of drugs unless it was Marijuana.  This was made possible because prior to this the Latin Kings held a 1972 election to vote on a new leader.  Juan Santos now had a heroin issue that I believe he got over a short time later, but it cost him his leadership role.  Santos would semi-retire from the Latin Kings in 1972 but stuck around the area interacting with many old friends while being in and out of prison. Carmelo also stepped down and retired from the nation and when election time came Gustavo “Hercules” Colon was voted to run all northern operations from behind prison walls which he successfully did. “Rayo” ran southwest and south side operations.  Other members were out casted for their behavior and ejected from the organization to be made examples of how this behavior was now not acceptable.  All addicted Latin Kings were ordered to kick their Heroin habits immediately and turn in all bags of their Heroin, if they did not, severe consequences would be suffered.  It did not matter about the withdraw effects; you had to just stop using…no Exceptions!

Activism also took a revolutionary route, especially at Leavitt and Schiller.  It was at this location that Latin Kings were working with the Puerto Rican extremist group FALN and they were hiding them at this location.  Once the authorities came after the FALN, the Latin Kings cut off ties with FALN and had to abandon Leavitt and Schiller, King Papo left that location and most of the main members moved to Division and Wolcott to start a new section there. The young members stuck around Leavitt and Schiller and helped start the Insane Unknowns at Leavitt and Schiller after the big players of the Latin Kings departed in 1972.  Latin Kings would return in 1979 to this intersection.  It was at this point that Beach and Spaulding became the governing section for all north side operations and no longer Leavitt and Schiller.

Now that Rayo had become leader of the south side, he was now referred to the nickname “Baby King” as he was the protégé of the former leader King Papo allegedly.  Gustavo Colon was now referred to as “Lord Gino” now that he was in command of all northern Chicago operations, these two men had just become the King of Kings.

After the creation of the manifesto in 1972 Beach and Spaulding no longer governed all the Latin King branches city-wide, further away branches at last didn’t have to travel all the way to Humboldt Park for meetings.  All south side operations were headed at the Boulevards at 24th and Marshall while the north side still reported to Beach and Spaulding.  Eventually traveling to report ceased and each branch governed more on its own.

Since 1972, I never hear of anymore stories of Juan Santos but he was in prison through most of the 80s at least since 1980.  In the Joseph “Lil Rat” Carrilo (Chicago Guerrilla Journalist) documentary on YouTube about his version of Latin King history, he states he knew Papo after both men were incarcerated around 1984.  Carrilo states that during this time there was a call for Santos to resume leadership because of his clout and connections but Papo declined and instead Carillo helped work security while behind bars for Papo, protecting Papo from any assassination attempts from rivals. I have never seen any mugshots or heard any prison stories about Papo, so I have nothing to add about that.  After Leavitt and Schiller closed in 1972 so did Ashland and Cortez.  Ashland and Cortez Latin Kings either flipped to Harrison Gents, Ashland Vikings or left the area completely if they wanted to stay Latin Kings they headed to Crystal and Damen in Wicker Park.  King Papo moved to Crystal and Damen the same year after Leavitt and Schiller was closed and very likely helped found Crystal and Damen which is still active today.  There is much I don’t know about Santos’ later life accept that in the summer of 1988 when he was killed by the Cardona family.  The legend is that he angered Lord Gino and other high up Latin Kings, and they ordered him to be killed; however, no body was ever recovered, or any crime reported.

Berwyn & Winthrop, Winthrop and Winona (Wild West)

In the Edgewater community on Chicago’s further north side, the Thorndale Jag Offs, also known as Thordale Jarvis Organization dominated this community. Many times the TJOs would prey upon groups of Hispanic youths that were now moving into the neighborhood heavily beginning in 1974. TJOs faced legal issues in the early 70s. In the year 1974 the TJOs were re-establishing themselves and founders Joe Ganci and Gary Kellas were active on the streets once again. Some Latin Kings from Winthrop and Ainslie, the original Latin Kings section in Uptown, now arrived at the intersection of Winthrop Avenue and Winona Street which sat right near the border with Edgewater. This settlement was much closer to TJO turf and war kicked off immediately. Gary Kellas and Joe Ganci would go to prison over this conflict as they shot two Latin Kings from the Wild West killing one of them. Joe Ganci would stay in prison until his death while Gary Kellas would be released in the 1980s only to end up back in prison. Eventually Wild West Latin Kings would advance two blocks north into Edgewater at Berwyn Avenue and Winthrop.

Leland & Virginia

In the 1970s, Chicago’s Lincoln Square, mostly Greek community, was more of a conservative community and once African Americans and Hispanics began migrating to this community many were not happy with this new migration. Beginning in 1975 Hispanics were moving into apartments at Virginia Avenue and Leland Avenue and were facing animosity from the neighborhood Gaylords gang. The Gaylords had been in this community the longest and often represented the population of Lincoln Square that was unhappy with Hispanic migration. The Insane Popes were moving into the community in 1975 at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Rockwell Street who were also representing the angry side of the community. In response to the Popes and Gaylords the Latin Kings arrived at Leland and Virginia to assist any youths of any race that had problems with Gaylords and Popes, this was the birth of Leland and Virginia Latin Kings in 1975.

Project Kings

In the year 1975, the Latin Kings established themselves in the Julia C. Lathrop Homes.  These projects were located in the North Center neighborhood.  Latin Kings had been living here since Latin Kings were created; however, they didn’t run these projects, their allies the Insane Deuces ran these buildings.  In the year 1975 the Insane Deuces donated ‘The Horseshoe” which is the southern most section of the projects that is along Diversey Parkway and the horseshoe shaped part is from Hoyne to Leavitt.  Latin Kings were very close to the Deuces as they fought Simon City Royals and Paulina Barry Community viciously.  In 1987 Latin Kings and Deuces began to have friction over the crack cocaine trade.  In 1989 war was declared between Deuces and Latin Kings and when the Deuces flipped to becoming Folks in January of 1992 they left the projects and the Latin Kings took over only sharing with some black gangs. Latin Kings would remain in these projects until the city started closing them in the early 2010s.

Compa

Another big player within the Latin King Nation was a member named Julio “Compa” Munoz who was an original member the Imperials and the earlier Latin Kings demonstration that pre-dates the ALKN Latin Kings.  Compa was born in the year 1936 making him one of the oldest members or perhaps the oldest member of the Latin Kings.  Compa was a big-time member and highly regarded in the nation.

According to court documents, on the night of December 17, 1975 Compa conspired with a prostitute named Deborah Schak and Victor Figueroa and Ralphie Munoz to get a sum of money together to pay for Schak’s methadone treatment because she was a struggling recovering heroin addict and asked the men for help according to court documents.  The four of them then conspired to have Schak lure a client into a trap where she would perform her sexual favors for money then Munoz’ men would rob him.  Schak lived with Munoz at 1737 Maplewood (Maplewood and Bloomingdale in Logan Square) and told Munoz she needed the money and was willing to steal for it according to court documents. Schak then walked to Western Avenue and picked up on three men, two of which took her to one of the men’s residence where she performed sexual favors on them both.  One of the men, Peter Mobiles, wanted to stay with Schak and offered her $100 for a night with her and he flashed a large amount of money according to court documents.  Mobiles and Schak then left to stay at her “sister’s house” at Campbell and Wabansia which was right down the block from where Schak and Munoz realistically resided.  Schak had Mobiles wait outside while she went inside to ask her sister for permission, instead Schak grabbed a knife and Munoz came with her with a gun on him.  Schak asked Mobiles if he could give Munoz a ride to Foster and Sheridan, Mobiles agreed and got in the car while Schak got in the back seat behind him, and Munoz hopped into the passenger seat.  According to court documents Munoz put the gun to Mobiles’ head while Schack wrapped her arm around Mobile’s neck and put her knife to his throat, the two of them then demanded money but Mobiles only gave them $20.  Munoz then ordered Mobiles to take off his clothes and put them right outside the car, Mobiles complied according to court documents.  I am speculating Munoz had Mobiles do this, so they could search his clothes for more money because after this happened Munoz told Schak to step outside, Munoz then ordered Mobiles to lie down on the ground face down, then Munoz shot Mobiles in the back of the head.  The two of them grabbed the clothes then left the scene and fled to their place on Maplewood.  Back at the residence Julio Munoz told Ralphie Munoz that he was not sure if Mobiles was dead and that he accidentally shot Mobiles but also said “it’s probably better that way.”  Schak apparently did not want murder to be involved because she was freaked out and ended up testifying against Munoz which got him put in prison for the murder. (People vs. Munoz, 1979).

This Julio Munoz case did not end with this 1975 murder, when the trails were happening in 1976 one of the men that discussed the robbery before it happened in December of 1975 was Victor Figueroa who had turned state’s witness against Compa in August of 1976.  Because of Figueroa’s testimony the Latin Kings were making death threats against Figueroa forcing him into a witness protection program.  Compa was highly regarded and was a high up member of the organization so tricking on him would come with consequences.  The Latin Kings were now hunting Figueroa down and the hunt ended in 1979.  According to court documents the frozen body of Victor Figueroa was found in a gangway at 1027 N. Francisco Street (East Humboldt Park) on February 23, 1979 with three bullet wounds in his chest and his penis was severed and shoved into his mouth.  Anthony Perez was later arrested and charged with the murder.  According to court documents Perez initially denied killing Figueroa but then later confessed to killing him and said he did it with another Latin King named “Black Jack,” but Black Jack’s real identity was never revealed in the court documents.  Perez said he killed Figueroa in revenge for Figueroa testifying against Julio Compa Munoz.  On the night of the murder Figueroa went into a bar at 1100 North California Ave (California and Thomas in East Humboldt Park) to look into buying drugs, at the bar Perez and Black Jack recognized Figueroa and approached him offering to get him the drugs as long as Figueroa came with them.  The two men lured Figueroa to the alleyway at 1027 N. Francisco Street then Black Jack acted like he fell on the ice and pulled down Figueroa with him, then Perez pulled out the .38 revolver and pointed it at Figueroa and said “your days are over,” then fired all six bullets striking him only twice in the chest.  Black Jack then reloaded the revolver for Perez and told him to shoot Figueroa in the heart, Perez then shot Figueroa right in the heart which was the cause of death according to the court documents.  Perez was later arrested and charged with murder, in the court documents Perez denied cutting off Figueroa’s penis and feeding it to him, and the documents do not detail that part at all (People vs. Perez, 1983).  The penis was likely removed by one of the two men to symbolize what happens when you run your mouth and testify, hence, why the penis was placed in the man’s mouth, the message was clearly sent, and it also showed the influence that Compa had, being an original member and perhaps the oldest member.  Compa would remain in prison until 2012 where he died behind bars.  Compa was also one of the bigger time leaders if not the very leader of the East Humboldt Park Latin Kings which was a section that closed right after Compa’s incarceration in 1979.

Howard Street Latin Kings and Pottawatomie Park

In the year 1975, Latin Kings formed along Howard Street in the Rogers Park neighborhood in the Jonquill Terrace apartments at Howard and Ashland. The Latin Kings battled white gangs like the Howard Street Greasers that did not want Hispanics moving to the area in large numbers. These Latin Kings would eventually spread west down Howard Street to Pottawatomie Park where they would hold that down until the mid 90s. These Latin Kings also had legendary battles with the Simon City Royals. These Latin Howard Street Latin Kings would only leave because the area became heavily African American.

The importance of the Maywood Latin Kings

The year was 1976, and most of the Chicago area suburbs were quiet and a place to escape from the bustling city.  In the western suburbs there was no signs of Chicago based gang activity stretching from Berkeley, to Maywood to Bellwood to Elmhurst to Melrose Park to Villa Park.  All was quite until Mexican families came to move into the suburb of Maywood and start a better new life for themselves and their children.  Maywood was a frustrated mostly white community that suddenly suffered high unemployment after their can factory closed down.  People took their frustrations out on the newly arrived Hispanic and black residents moving in.  Hispanic people were settling around the intersection of 5th Avenue and Lake Street and some were trying to open businesses and were running into difficulties with unfair treatment from the rest of the community.  The first Latin King to move to Maywood was “Nat” from 23rd and Christiana.  Nat recruited his cousin “PeeWee” then soon a domino effect happened of several of their friends joining the Latin Kings.  These young suburban Latin Kings made 5th Avenue and Maywood their stronghold and the headquarters.  This section became very tightly ran and well organized and become the very first permanent Latin King suburban branch on the entire planet.  These Latin Kings were serious and put in lots of work for the organization.  Within a very short time they expanded into nearby Melrose Park and Stone Park to help with Hispanic families facing unfair treatment.  By the later 1970s and early 1980s these Latin Kings began to engage is vicious gang wars with rival gangs moving in from the city bringing negative attention to their original cause which was to help those that faced severe discrimination.  Over time, the Maywood branch would spread out further influencing several more south suburbs and west suburbs that reached all the way as far north as west Indiana.  By the later 1980s and early 1990s Latin Kings were in just about every suburb connected near the southern side of the city and many had connections to Maywood.

Melrose Park

The suburbs of Melrose Park was once known for having a strong Italian community and becoming the home for several Italian organized crime members. I worked with a guy that was Italian and he grew up in this suburb, before he passed away he used to tell me about the racism as he was kinda part of it. For my former co-worker, growing up in Melrose Park was a very conservative existence and his dad was a Melrose Park cop. This co-worker told me he hung out with a clique of friends, but he never said they did any racial attacks but he did say they would get into fights and he did tell me he got chased by Latin Kings from his neighborhood in the year 1976. I though to myself that I knew why they chased him so I never asked him. This co-worker told me these Latin Kings were from Melrose Park and when I talked to King Stretch of the Maywood Latin Kings he also verified the Latin Kings formed in Melrose Park in 1976, the same year as the Maywood Latin Kings forming. Mexican people were moving to the far southwest side of Melrose Park that Italian people were fleeing from because of the larger populations of Hispanics and African Americans in northern Maywood. Several mostly Italian cliques like the one my former co-worker was a member of would harass and get violent with Mexican youths and many Mexican business owners at Broadway Avenue and Lake Street became victims of vandalism. Latin Kings came to Melrose Park to protect these business and youths that were the victim of racially motivated harm. Beginning in the early 80s, these Latin Kings would battle Black Gangster Disciples from Maywood which would lead to several legal issues with the police but these Latin Kings were the only Melrose Park gang to survive police crackdowns all these years and remain active.

The Jungle Latin Kings (Franklin Park)

When we ever hear of anything related to “The Jungle” attached to Chicago gangs we think of the Imperial Gangsters. The Imperial Gangsters have been running “The Jungle” since their arrival in 1979. The part of the story of this isolated apartment and townhouse area that is often left out is one of the oldest suburban settlements of Chicago gangs in history. The Latin Kings moved to this Franklin Park suburban area in 1976, the same year Latin Kings moved to nearby Melrose Park and Maywood. Simon City Royals were residing in nearby Stone Park and many Hispanic youths from the apartments and townhouses from the Grand Avenue and Mannheim Road area were having problems with the Royals. This isolated subdivision tucked out of sight even from Mannheim Road became blighted and devalued in the mid-70s as crime from nearby motels, strip clubs and gambling businesses floated into this area. This all triggered a white flight pattern and by 1976 this area was a rough area for crime. Latin Kings were moving into this area and were connected with Maywood and Melrose Park Latin Kings to protect the area from crime and rival gangs like the Simon City Royals. Imperial Gangsters and Maniac Latin Disciples moved into this area in 1979 which brought on a bloody gang war in the early and mid-80s. These Latin Kings managed to push out Maniac Latin Disciples in the mid-80s but would not be able to remove Imperial Gangsters, Latin Kings would move out sometime between 1986 and 1987.

Montrose & Hazel

In the year 1977, Latin Kings moved into several apartments near the intersection of Monstrose Avenue and Hazel Street. The cluster of apartments from Montrose to Wilson Avenue were severely ran down apartments for the poor making this a tough mostly Hispanic and African American area. Gangs were abundant in these buildings. Vice Lords sold drugs on the corner of Agatite and Hazel while Brazers were seen in Clarendon Park. Harrison Gents were at Sunnyside and Hazel. This area had become rough streets since the late 60s, many mostly Hispanic youths from these apartments had issues with gangs in the area and when Latin Kings came to Montrose and Hazel many youths were very welcoming. When the Brazers left the area in 1980, Latin Kings advanced into Clarendon Park. Montrose and Hazel became a strong section and another successful section in the Uptown neighborhood.

33rd & Morgan

The Latin Kings’ first attempt to have a Bridgeport presence failed by the end of the 1960s following a gang rape case. The Cullerton Deuces came to Bridgeport in the 1970s but their presence was soon overwritten in 1977 by the Warlords that flipped their members. The Warlords lasted one year and by 1978, the Latin Kings came to 33rd Street and Morgan Street and easily flipped these Warlords into a more permanent gang. The Latin Kings of 33rd and Morgan were down since they started and battled with many crews in Bridgeport until the Satan Disciples formed in the late 80s. These Latin Kings would battle with Satan Disciples ferociously. I once lived at 32nd and Carpenter and personally watched Latin Kings and SDs battle, the Latin Kings held it down for decades and may still run it. There once was a store at 33rd and Morgan when I lived there that had black and gold five point crown merchandise in there that I personally saw back in the early 2010s. Latin Kings in the neighborhood always showed me respect.

Late 70s big moves

In 1977, the Latin Kings made the news again when another Division street riot kicked off on June 4th 1977.  Once again Chicago Police gunned down two Puerto Rican youths and once again the community was infuriated.  Looting, vandalism and violence ensued and the Latin Kings were a major part of the riot and so were the Spanish Cobras.  Once Cobras and Kings saw each other they started fighting viciously and leaving a big path of destruction in their wake.

In the year 1977, gang wars were worsening in the Little Village area as now the Two Six gang started to grow aggressively and the Satan Disciples became increasingly interested in taking territory west of Marshall Boulevard/California.  This led to a major standoff with guns blazing along Marshall Boulevard one day when about 15-20 members of the Latin Kings went up against 15-20 members of the Satan Disciples shooting several guns at each other.  One of the Latin King shooters was a Latin Queen known as Josie “La China (pronounced Cheena)” Contreras.  La China was perhaps one of the toughest Latin Queens from the Boulevards and she stood alongside her Latin King brothers shooting at the SDs.  China was even known for winning a one on one fight against a larger sized Satan Disciple at one point.

A big turn happened for the Latin Kings in 1978.  The Latin Kings had a very strong branch operating on the corner of North Ave and Kedzie in West Humboldt Park.  Right around the corner at 1551 North Kedzie Ave is the Illinois National Guard armory.  The Latin Kings of North and Kedzie pulled off a major heist on a military vehicle right near the armory and stole thousands of dollars worth of high powered weapons by ambushing a military vehicle as it left the armory, they then helped themselves to all the crates in the vehicle while they held the personnel at gun point.  This made the Latin Kings one heavily armed organization fot years to come.

Back to Leavitt & Schiller

In the year 1979 the Latin Kings wanted Leavitt and Schiller back but the Insane Unknowns now ran that area.  A negotiation was made and the Latin Kings were able to move back in as allies with Insane Unknowns. The Unknowns lasted until 1993 here but Latin Kings remained at Leavitt and Schiller until the mid-2010s.

1979

Beginning in the year 1979, the state of Illinois began to identify a prison overcrowding issue and would begin an early release program until 1982. This crisis was likely attributed to our nation’s economic decline which further contributed to massive job loss in further south side Chicago neighborhood like South Deering and South Chicago and the decline of many Chicago suburbs. As manufacturing jobs vanished, affordable housing for the poor became abundant in areas of Chicagoland that were once manufacturing hubs. Communities were often outraged, especially in the suburbs with thousands of impoverished Hispanic and African American people suddenly moving into older houses, apartments, town houses and condos where white factory workers once lived. The Latin Kings would expand greatly during the 1979-1982 period as big time members were being released from prison into various suburbs and further south side Chicago neighborhoods. This was not a coordinated nation effort, it was simply coincidence as these Latin Kings moved alongside Hispanic migration patterns and release from prison programs.

Rosemont & Claremont

Beginning in 1975 Chicago’s West Ridge community began a partial racial transition as most of the Jewish community moved out of this neighborhood as Hispanics, African American, Pakistani and Indian people took their places. Hispanics were in small numbers but among the Pakistani population came the Assyrian Eagles that defended the Arab community near Rosemont Avenue and Clarmont Avenue. By 1979, more Hispanics were moving to the Rosemont and Clarmont area into the many apartments and the Latin Kings would move in alongside this migration. This migration established the Rosemont and Clarmont (RC) Latin Kings and the Assyrian Eagles now that they flipped to Latin Kings under the new name of “Assyrian Kings.” Latin Kings in this area, whether they were Assyrian Kings or just Latin Kings were powerful in this area and battled rivals like Simon City Royals and Insane Popes for years.

Cook County suburbs 1979

Berwyn 1979

As Latin Kings were settling in the Cicero area in 1979, Berwyn was a early suburb of Latin King settlement. These Latin Kings would survive through the decades through gang wars and heavy police crackdowns.

Chicago Heights 1979

Since the mid-1960s, Chicago Heights had become a racially divided community as whites were moving out of the anywhere near the east side of the suburb. Black P Stones and Black Gangster Disciples were the first Chicago gangs among the African American community. By 1979, the south side of Chicago Heights began to be evacuated because of white flight. On the southwest side of the suburb several Mexican people began moving to Chicago Heights. Mexican youths would soon conflict with African American gangs from Chicago Heights especially Black Gangster Disciples (GDs). Latin Kings came to this suburb and began recruitment in 1979 near the intersection of 15th Street and Campbell Avenue where multiple Mexican owned businesses were opening that could be under attack. Latin Kings in Chicago Heights would become so popular they would take over much of the southwest side of the suburb. Eventually Latin Counts came into the suburb by 1990 which started a major war between both gangs but Latin Kings would end up larger in the suburbs after the 90s and 2000s wars with Latin Counts.

Cicero Grant Works 1979

The suburb of Cicero had been a Latin King hangout since their arrival in the area since 1966. Latin Kings once had an unsuccessful settlement in Cicero in the later 1960s but settlement was not permanent. Mexican migration came to Cicero for the first time in 1979 as many were able to now afford to live in the Grant Works area of Cicero. These first Mexican families were instantly protected by a group of Latin Kings led by a 16 year old white member. Latin Kings were allies with the major gangs of Cicero like Noble Knights, Twelfth Street Players and Arch Dukes. These Latin Kings were mainly at war with the Ridgeway Lords and in the same year the Latin Kings settled in Cicero the Ridgeway Lords were their only enemy. In the same year these Latin Kings settled their leader Wayne Hastik was shot to death by Ridgeway Lords during a home invasion. The Cicero Latin Kings were also in local papers from spraying so much graffiti that the mayor was upset, this group went extinct by 1980 but would not be the last Cicero Latin King settlement.

Des Plaines 1979

Since the year 1984 Des Plaines suburban gang activity had been documented in Chicago area news sources especially then Arlington Heights Daily Harold. On my Des Planes page I specifically cite these sources as former police chiefs have attested that Des Plaines Chicago gang activity dates back to the late 70s. Between 1979 and 1982 the state of Illinois began early release programs for several inmates due to the nation’s crumbling economy. Latin Kings arrived in the Des Plaines suburb in 1979 into a townhouse complex on the south side of the community. These townhouses were built in the early 60s but by the later 70s these townhouses became rough areas. Beginning in 1979 the Latin Kings from Pine Court would begin battling with the Imperial Gangsters in Apache Park and the townhouses just south of the park. The Pine Court Latin Kings were first in Des Plaines but would not be the last Latin Kings group in the suburb, Latin Kings would eventually start in multiple areas in the suburb.

Hodgkins 1979

Along an isolated road on the outskirts of the Hodgkins suburbs in Cook County a set of low budget apartments was built within this business park area in 1964. By 1979, these apartments had becoming government housing and Latin Kings were the first gang to arrive establishing one of the first suburban chapters in Chicago area history. These Latin Kings would remain here until these apartments were torn down in 2014.

Rolling Meadows

Since the year 1982, Latin Kings have been documented as a presence in the suburb of Rolling Meadows. I had found Arlington Heights Daily Harold newspapers as far back as 1982 that specifically mention Latin Kings, Spanish Cobras and Imperial Gangsters being active in an apartment complex in the Rolling Meadows suburb. At the intersection of Route 53 and Algonquin Road, the Arbor View apartments had been troubled since they were built in the late 60s. By the late 70s crime was rampant and this complex became the worst area of Rolling Meadows. Even though the Arlington Heights Daily Herald February 1982 articles did not state the exact year Latin Kings moved into these apartments I can say it had to have been by 1981 at latest but could have been since 1979. 1979 was the same year the early release inmate program began and these apartments would have taken these guys in. By early 1982 these Chicago gangs in Arbor View had guns and were in large numbers according to these February 1982 articles which could indicate they had been there a few years. After 1982, Chicago gangs and crime were no longer reported in the Herald or anywhere else in Arbor View because Latin Kings moved to apartments and townhouses in the far southeast side of the community at the intersection of Old Wilke Road and Algonquin Road. By the late 80s Imperial Gangsters and Spanish Cobras ceased to exist in Rolling Meadows but Latin Kings would live on until current years in the Coachlight Condos, East Park Apartments and Park Meadow Apartments.

Summit 1979

Since the beginning of the Latin Kings in Chicago, multiple members, many higher up in the organization, would move to the suburb of Summit in the 63rd Street and Harlem Avenue area. 63rd and Harlem was also the border between Summit and Argo and the racial border between the African American area south of 63rd Street. When an increased number of African Americans moved to Argo and am increased number of Mexican people moved to 63rd and Harlem, Chicago gangs moved in alongside this migration especially in the apartments at 63rd and Harlem. Latin Kings established a major section in Summit and by 1990 they would expand to 61st Street at Harlem. The Summit Latin Kings are one of the oldest suburban chapters in Chicagoland.

Kane County 1979

Aurora 1979

The suburb of Aurora was a slightly rougher suburb on the east side since at least the 1950s. Being located about 50 miles from Chicago would make Aurora far enough to be a getaway from the city but in 1979 Aurora’s economy began to collapse. Aurora was no different than many other Illinois cities becoming directly impacted by the loss of manufacturing. Housing on the east side of Aurora became cheap in the later 1970s and many Hispanic and African American families from Chicago moved to Aurora in search of affordable housing in a far away suburb not accustomed to gangs. Aurora always had gangs of their own but no Chicago gangs until high ranking members of the Insane Deuces and Latin Kings moved to Aurora in 1975. These members connected to the Aurora cocaine and heroin drug trade that was big in Aurora since at least the early 70s. Latin Kings would then become officially in business by 1979 as other Chicago gangs began moving into the suburb, Latin King remain in Aurora.

Elgin 1979

In the Kane County suburbs of Elgin and Aurora a Chicago to Milwaukee heroin and cocaine ring was strong in the 1970s. Beginning in 1979 some white flight swept the central part of Elgin as Hispanic and African American Chicagoans moved to Elgin. Latin Kings from Chicago moved to Elgin in 1979 and plugged in with the drug trafficking ring through the Kane County area and this brought Latin Kings to Elgin in 1979 starting a permanent legacy.

Carpentersville 1979

Carpentersville was much like certain parts of Aurora and Elgin in eastern Kane County. Many apartments and smaller simple homes were built along this eastern Kane County strip that included Carpentersville. Hispanic people began moving to Carpentersville in 1979 and members of the Latin Kings moved here as well from either migration waves or early release inmate programs. These Latin Kings were also connected with Elgin and Aurora Latin Kings through the Chicago to Milwaukee heroin and cocaine rings.

Joliet 1979

During the Illinois inmate release program that began in 1979 accompanied by gang members’ desire to move closer to incarcerated friends and family, Latin Kings arrived in Joliet in 1979. Joliet was not always welcoming of the new migration of African American and Hispanic people on the east side that had moved into Joliet to replace the many white flighters that moved away once the steel factories began to close. Racial conflicts ensued which drew many mostly Hispanic youths to join the Latin Kings that had now moved within walking distance to the Joliet correctional facility. The Joliet Latin Kings were the first Chicago gang to arrive in Will County and Joliet was settled before Bolingbrook and Romeoville or any other Will County appearances. The Latin Kings have remained one of the largest and oldest Chicago gangs in Joliet.

Waukegan 1979

In the year 1979, big time Latin Kings from 25th and California moved to the Waukegan suburb into the area of 8th Street and Jackson Street. Waukegan was a suburb that always had racial conflicts since at least the early 20th century, now that a manufacturing loss in Lake County drove a major white flight pattern, Hispanic and African American Chicagoans moved to Waukegan, especially on the city’s south side for affordable housing. Latin Kings became a group for youths that felt bullied by African American gangs and white groups, the Waukegan chapter would become a permanent settlement for Latin Kings.

Rockford 1979

Beginning in the year 1979, white flight began in Rockford as Rockford’s manufacturing base was beginning to decline. Rockford has always been a racial city and when several Hispanic and African Americans moved from Chicago onto Rockford’s southeast side it was a cultural shock for the mostly Italian community. Racial issues likely caused Latin Kings to come to Rockford and settle the Booker Park area. These Latin Kings would become one of Rockford’s largest gangs since their arrival in 1979 and would remain active into present years.

1980

51st & Ada

In the year 1980, the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s south side began to racially transition more rapidly than ever in this neighborhood. Hispanic people once mainly lived in the 47th and Laflin area of the community, but in 1980, a sudden major Hispanic and African American migration wave happened seemingly overnight. The Back of the Yards was reliant on manufacturing workers and once those businesses began to close, many long time residents of BOTY packed up and left. In the southwest side of the community African Americans and Hispanics were both moving into this area near Sherman Park and the Latin Souls were not too welcoming of many of these Chicagoans. The Saints were especially ferocious about racial change and several new gangs were moving into BOTY during the same year of 1980. Among the list of gangs came the Latin Kings of 51st and Ada Street which was a section started by “Diaper Dead Eye” of the Coulter Latin Kings. Latin Kings would take over the streets just north of Sherman Park while Black P Stones settled just west of the park. Black P Stones and Latin Kings teamed up against Latin Souls and pushed them out of that area. These Latin Kings were known for hosting wild parties and for being a hardcore group until incarcerations hurt this section. These Kings battled, Gangster Disciples, Saints, Latin Souls, Two Two Boys, Two Six, City Knights and La Raza.

Bensenville

I don’t know the exact year Latin Kings came to Bensenville but it was by 1982 at the latest. In 1982 the Chicago Tribune reported gang problems in Bensenville and listed Latin Kings, Imperial Gangsters and Harrison Gents as problematic. I believe Bensenville Latin Kings started in 1979 or 1980 but I am not too sure. At one time Latin Kings were the biggest gang in Bensenville as they fought legendary battles against Imperial Gangsters and Spanish Cobras. These Latin Kings started when they moved into brand new low-income apartments in the early 80s and have since remained in the village. Bensenville Latin Kings could have been one of the first Chicago gangs to settle Du Page County.

Bolingbrook 1980

Latin Kings arrived in Joliet as their first destination in Will County and one Latin King was living in Romeoville. In the year 1980, Bolingbrook and Woodridge became heavily colonized by several African American and Hispanic people as many white manufacturing workers left the suburb. Racial conflicts likely brought Latin Kings to Bolingbrook because they represented impoverished youths that were often from Chicago. In grew up near Bolingbrook and hung out in Bolingbrook a lot. I worked multiple jobs in Bolingbrook and I once resides at the Woodcreek Drive apartments for 2 years that is known as Riverstone today. I remember the Bolingbrook Latin Kings well and many of them attended Romeoville High School. These Latin Kings lived in multiple apartment and townhouse subdivisions like Woodcreek, Beaconridge, Innsbrook (Demolished) and in house subdivisions like Pepper Tree. Latin Kings have always been one Bolingbrook’s larger gangs. These Latin Kings started no later than 1980 and this is verified.

Romeoville 1980

I grew up in Romeoville during the later part of my youth and as soon as I moved here I was educated on the Latin Kings right away. I got to know some of the Romeoville Latin Kings as a teenager and even hung around with one of them for some time. In my later life, it was a pleasure speaking to King Stretch and King Kurly about how and when the Romeoville Latin Kings started. King Kurly moved to Romeoville as a teenager in 1979 from 23rd and Sawyer in Little Village. In the year 1980, King Kurly started Latin Kings in the Popular Ridge subdivision and assembled a group of 12 members. These Latin Kings stood up to racial discrimination and other types of discrimination some youths faced especially from jocks and burnouts. These Latin Kings were suppliers of cocaine and marijuana which were popular drugs in the village.

In the year 1986, King Kurly faced legal issues and was forced to either join the military or do time in prison, he chose the military. The Latin Kings in Romeoville disbanded from 1986 to 1987, but once King Stretch, an original Maywood Latin King, would return from prison after killing a man, he started the Romeoville Latin Kings back up in 1987 and they would remain in the village after that. Latin Kings were big in the center of town near St. Andrews church/school and they were also near Irene King Elementary. These Latin Kings were very active and remember it well as they battled Gangster Disciples, Two Six and Latin Counts. The Latin Kings even survived the police raids of 1995-1996 that dismantled the majority of Romeoville’s gang activity.

89^th & Muskegon

In the year 1979, as gang activity was heating up in the South Chicago neighborhood the Latin Kings moved just north of the South Chicago border onto the intersection of 79th and Clarendon but they dwelled on the South Shore community side of 79th up to 78th.  This was a group of about 10 Latin Kings.  This branch did not last long before the founders were sent to prison until 1981.  In 1981, Ray of this 79th Street branch moved to the Bush which was a few blocks south into the South Chicago neighborhood as him and others started the notorious South Chicago Latin Kings.  This branch would move to 89th and Muskegon in 1981 and would explode in size to become a permanent fixture in the South Chicago neighborhood.  These Latin Kings viciously battled several small gangs and party crews and went at it with Spanish Gangster Disciples and sometime Gangster Disciples.  Beginning in the early 1990s Latin Dragons and Latin Counts would be added to their enemies list.

Pullman & Roseland Latin Kings

In about 1981, Hispanic people were moving to the southern Pullman neighborhood which was a colony that extended near the Roseland border on Chicago’s far south side.  White flight began in northern Pullman in the late 1960s shortly following the construction of the London Towne townhouses that were built for African Americans.  Black P Stone gangs and Black Gangster Disciples moved into this northern area and soon moved as far south at 115^th Street.  From 115^th Street to the south, this area remained the home to many whites and a Mexican colony began to move in alongside the whites.  African American youths often tested these Mexican youths and gave them a very hard time and it would get violent many times.  When Latin Kings came to this part of Pullman two groups of Latin Kings were established within the Pullman borders all in this southern area.  One group was called the “Pullman Latin Kings” from 113^th and Langley, the other group was the 115^th and Champlain Latin Kings called “Roseland Latin Kings.”  Even though 115^th and Champlain is technically in the Pullman neighborhood and not even sitting at the border with Roseland.  They may have been called Roseland Latin Kings because “Pullman Latin Kings” was already taken?   Roseland Latin Kings battled African American gangs like Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords and Four Corner Hustlers from Roseland viciously and were said to be one tough group of Latin Kings and they were known for throwing wild parties.

Cicero 1982

Latin Kings attempted to settle the suburb of Cicero twice before the 1980s and both attempts failed as one group faded out of the area and the 1979 group failed because their leader was killed, and they did not have much guidance.  In 1982, the “Spanish Harlem” Latin Kings branched into Cicero and put in a more organized and permanent chapter in the suburb.  Another group of Latin Kings also came to Cicero and by 1984 Latin Kings were strong and deep in the suburb and would never leave.  14^th Street and 51^st Street in the Grant Works area became a prominent hood and 57^th and Cermak.  These Latin Kings battled several gangs through the years and were even targeted for a 1999 lawsuit from the city of Cicero due to too much gangbanging for the city to handle.

Meatloaf story

A story I want to bring back from the Chicagogangs.org site is the meatloaf story.  This is a story that goes to show the lengths some Latin Kings will go to, to make something happen.  The story comes from the NGCRC in collaboration with federal authorities over their witnesses.  This full story can be found here https://ngcrc.com/ngcrc/page15.htm written by George W. Knox who works for the NGCRC.  He tells a tale of a high-ranking Latin King that turned informant and was put in a witness protection program according to Knox.  Inmate Carlos Robles of the north side Latin kings was classified as an “escapee” just two days before his release from prison and the case ran cold until 1992 when the informant told authorities about Robles and then in 1995 a skull was dug up in the Statesville Prison yard as evidence but still no one was pursued for prosecution and perhaps never will be.

In 1981, Raul Rayo Gonzales had a conflict with a north side Latin King Carlos Robles.  Robles disrespected Gonzales and had no issue with it because Rayo was running the south side while Robles was under north side and felt Rayo couldn’t touch him.  The only obstacle Rayo had to overcome was to get the nod from Lord Gino and state his case, Gino sided with Rayo and authorized Rayo to do whatever was needed to make an example out of Robles.  Rayo then would then patiently wait two years.

In July 1983, Robles’ parole had come up and he was just two days away from getting out and he didn’t suspect any trouble was coming.  Rayo consulted two of the craziest south side Latin Kings he could find in Statesville.  One was a cold-blooded killer from Cuba that was known to kill without any remorse.  Another was a short white member of the Latin Kings, both men were avid PCP users which already would make them extra crazy and creative.  The two men approached Robles and told him they were throwing him a “parole party” in the basement.  The men got permission from the guards to use the basement where the showers were and Robles thought he was being led downstairs to a whole celebration but once he was guided by the two men there was no one down there, before Carlos could realize anything the two men pulled out large machetes from somewhere and chopped his head clean off.  The two men then hacked his arms and legs off then chopped his limbs and torso into pieces making a big mess of blood everywhere, but all they had to do was turn on the showers and let it all go down the drain, the men also washed off the body parts.

The two inmates then coordinated a staged fight coordinated by fellow Latin Kings to create a diversion while both men slipped through a tunnel that led to the butcher shop where the men ran into a rival Black Gangster Disciple gang member working the shop.  Although BGDs (GDs) and Latin Kings are enemies the two men offered money and drugs in exchange for this BGD to help dispose of the body parts that were wrapped in plastic bags.  The BGD accepted the offer and began feeding body parts into a large meat grinder with pork and beef.  It was a perfect night to do this because meatloaf was on the menu.  The three men ground up the whole body into meat accept the skull which according to Knox “rolled around in the meat grinder like a basketball spinning on a metal rim.”  The skull had to be taken with the two and was later buried discreetly in the yard.

Later that night the BGDs and Latin Kings were not eating the meat loaf and giving their portions to other inmates which made them seem generous.  The other inmates dined on the meat happily not knowing they were all eating parts of Carlos.  Only the BGDs and Latin Kings knew what was in the meat loaf and not a single inmate from either gang ate the meat that night and perhaps snickered as the others chowed down.  No one was ever prosecuted for this and ironically one of the men went to possibly work as a chef at a government center in the cafeteria after his release according to Knox. Source from (https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r01/___https://ngcrc.com/profile/profile.html___.YzJ1Om1hZ2lkZ2xvdmVhbmRzYWZldHltYW51ZmFjdHVyaW5nY29tcGFueWxsYzpjOm86ZjUxNWM2NDY0ZTRiOGUwNWFiOTQ5ZTVkNTZiMTE0YzQ6Nzo1Njk1OmMxMDFkNTJhMWUyMjQxMzA1Njc0OGQxYjM4YzQxZTE0ZjM3ZmVlZDA0NzkwOWYyZTU0ZTFhMGFmNmU4ZDRmZGQ6dDpUOk4).

The Latin Kings kept their ties pretty tight with their People Nation allies that intensified on the streets in the early 1980s.  By 1981, a new directive was handed down from behind prison walls to expand the People Nation on the streets and offer new gang membership. The Latin Kings then recruited more gangs to join the People alliance and that is when they reeled in gangs like the Gaylords, Insane Deuces, Villa Lobos and Cullerton Deuces.  This was also the point in time when there were Latin Kings in every white or Hispanic neighborhood in the city.  The Kings were now putting in more sleeper cells out in the suburbs and were beginning to bust out in some suburbs like Rockford, Cicero, Berwyn  and Joliet.

By the mid-1980s the Latin Kings were spreading into more suburbs and the sleeper cells were opening up and taking in suburban kids interested in gangbanging.  By the late 1980s the Latin Kings were now in the majority of Du Page County, Will County, Lake County and Kane County suburbs and all of Cook County.  In Will County they started recruiting out of early 80s sleeper cells in Romeoville and Bolingbrook. In Dupage County they opened sets in suburbs like Addison, Schaumberg, Downers Grove and Westmont.

The Latin Kings were aggressively expanding their empire and were looking for more angles to expand the Cocaine, Marijuana, and Heroin pipelines by putting soldiers in the burbs.  They also grew into other states and even small towns in rural Illinois.  As the Latin Kings continued to grow by the late 1980s tensions with other gangs heated up and more violence ensued.  The Latin Kings wanted to flex their muscle and show their dominance in the streets by displaying several acts of violence; this would eventually bring about early tensions with fellow gangs within the People Nation alliance.  Sometimes scuffles would break out or there were cold feelings among allies.  This was seen as necessary because Latin Kings had to look out for each other more so than any other group out there and members needed to make a living on the streets without interference, however, interalliance wars were often smoothed over after short periods of time in the late 80s.  Latin Kings would learn to perceive possible threats from other organizations quickly and be fast to be on the offensive before anything got more out of hand.

In the year 1988 a crew/gang was founded in the Gage Park community at 55th and Sacramento called the “Devious Ones.” The Devious Ones became allies with South Side Insane Popes and South Side Heads in the neighborhood as they all mutually hated groups like the Guess Boys, Two Six and Ambrose. The Devious Ones empathized with long time residents against much of the Hispanic migration coming to Gage Park beginning that year but especially against the Two Six and Ambrose gangs that were now present in Gage Park. In the year 1990, the Devious ones came in contact with Latin Kings and all joined the Latin Kings. The Latin Kings then recruited the South Side Heads and absorbed them into the nation. This Latin King section became the notorious “Crown Town Latin Kings.”

Latin Kings arrived in the Garfield Ridge community in 1990 alongside some Hispanic migration but blended well with the community that was often opposed to Hispanic migration. Latin Kings recruited several white youths in the area and bonded with the South Side Insane Popes. Before long, a Latin King chapter sprouted that became notorious known as the “Midway Latin Kings” in 1990. Much of the recruitment was geared toward hate of Satan Disciples and Two Six.

In the same year of 1990, Hispanic people were first moving to the West Elsdon community which was notoriously an all-white community. This area had a long history of racial conflict and the Latin Kings arrived at 59th and Pulaski to deal with some of these issues but their focus became on wars with Satan Disciples and Two Six in the area. This began another notorious Latin King chapter.

At some point in the 1990s an unusual Latin King chapter opened in the Austin community at the intersection of Roosevelt and Menard. This was directly on the border of Chicago’s Austin community and the suburb of Cicero. Roosevelt Road is the borderline between the suburb and Chicago. These Latin Kings were African American almost exclusively. They were recruited after they had conflict with the Latin Counts from just south of Roosevelt Road at 14th and 58th (The Red Zone). It was said these African American Latin Kings were hard core and caused lots of damage to Latin Counts. This chapter is still active in recent years and has become a permanent part of “The Island.” These Latin Kings furiously battle Latin Counts and Gangster Disciples.

In 1991, the Latin Kings developed an “anybody killer” or “almighty don’t like nobody” policy where they declared war on several other People Nation gangs or pushed several others to start a war with them.  Some notable allies they begin war with around 1991 were Latin Counts, Bishops, Cullerton Deuces, Some Vice Lord sections, and Insane Deuces.  The rival Folks alliance also began engaging in several interralliance wars that year; therefore, the Kings did not really need their allies as much anyway. The Latin Kings were so large at this point that it became too difficult to control the dominance many Latin King sections felt on the streets and to pacify brewing conflicts with allies; not only that by the early 90s as drugs became a hotter commodity for gangs to deal in general other gangs wanted a bigger chunk of the profits in the streets and demanded the Latin Kings back away from certain zones that were designated for Latin Kings, in many of these cases Latin Kings would refuse to negotiate and conflict would ensue.

By the early 1990s Latin Kings could be found in every suburban town in Chicago land whether there was an active section or not.  The LKN had spread to all 50 states and even other countries as well, especially Mexico.  New York City developed a very large faction of Latin Kings in the 1980s.  I am not going into details about the NYC Kings because this is a Chicago and Chicago area gang history site; I do not have much to do with gang histories in other states.

By 1995, BK was released from prison and running things on the street especially all down the 26th street corridor.  By 1997, Lord Gino was 1 day from getting out until he was brought up on RICO charges and now is spending the rest of his life in federal prison.  In 1999 BK was incarcerated again on felony drug charges and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Although the Latin Kings have been involved in highly sophisticated drug related and violent activities this has still been an organization that was created for maintaining a strong brotherhood among members.  There is a deep history here that is to be respected and many have given their lives for the cause or have given up their freedom.  One of the main reasons the Latin Kings have grown to be the largest Hispanic organization in Chicago area and one of the largest worldwide is because of the deep sense on brotherhood that was first developed in the old days and showing supreme dominance on the streets.

Known sections of Latin Kings past and present:

Albany Park neighborhood Established 1975-present years

Sections of Albany Park

Lawrence & Kedzie (LKst, Homicide LKst) Established 1975-present years

Pulaski & Argyle

Argyle to Lawrence, Kedzie to Sacramento

Argyle & Spaulding

Keystone & Cullom

Austin neighborhood 90s-present years

Sections of Austin

Roosevelt & Menard (The Island)

Avondale neighborhood 1990s-present years

Sections of Avondale

Belmont & Central Park Ave 2000s-present years

Drake & School 90s-present years

Belmont & Sacramento

George to Diversey, Francisco to Mozart

Back of the Yards neighborhood Established 1980-present years

Sections of the Back of the Yards

51st & Ada settled 1972, official in 1980

52nd & Marshfield

Belmont-Cragin neighborhood 90s-present

Sections of Belmont-Cragin

Diversey & Major 90s, 2000s

Wellington & Lockwood 2010s-present

George Keating 90s

Bridgeport neighborhood Established 1966-1969, re-established 1978-present years

Sections of Bridgeport

28th & Normal Established 1966-1969

33rd & Morgan (Morgan Latin Kings) Established 1978-present years

35th & Halsted

Archer to 29th, Throop to Poplar

33rd to 36th, Morgan to Halsted Established 1978-present years

Bucktown (Logan Square) neighborhood 90s, 2000s

Sections of Bucktown

Cortland & Damen to Hoyne 90s, 2000s

Canaryville neighborhood 90s, 2000s, 2010s

Sections of Canaryville

Emerald from 47th to 49th 90s, 2000s, 2010s

East Humboldt Park neighborhood Established 1964-1979

Sections of East Humboldt Park

Maplewood & Wabansia (1964-1979)

East Side neighborhood Established 1983-present years

Section of East Side

96th & Avenue M (No Limit Latin Kings)

97th & Ewing

96th to 101st, Ewing to Ave N

103rd to 108th, Ave L to Ave H (East Side Latin Kings)

98th & Avenue L (98 Outlaws)

99th & Ewing (99 Ruthless)

104th & Avenue L (Murda Ave)

East Village (West Town) neighborhood Established 1964-2010s

Sections of East Village

Noble & Cortez Established 1964-1971

Ashland & Cortez Established 1965-1971

Division & Wolcott Established 1971-2010s

Thomas & Winchester 90s, 2000s

Edgewater neighborhood Established 1974-present years

Sections of Edgewater

Clark & Balmoral

Clark & Catalpa (Crack and Crime) 90s-present years

Clark & Bryn Mawr 2000s-present years

Ridge to Thorndale, Ravenswood to Hermitage

Farragut & Glenwood 90s-2000s

Berwyn & Winthrop 70s-present years

Englewood neighborhood Established 1966-1976

Sections of Englewood

57th & Halsted Established 1966-1976

Gage Park neighborhood (Crown Town) Established 1990-present years

51st & Campbell

51st & Homan (51 HLKs)

52nd & Talman

53rd & Albany

56th & Sacramento

58th & Harlem (5-8 Homicide)

51st to 58th, California to Pulaski

51st to 52nd, St. Louis to Kedzie (5-1 Crown Town)

53rd to 57th, Kedzie to Richmond (Crown Town)

52nd to 54th, Fairfield to Rockwell (Crown Town)

50th to 55th, California to Western (Crown Town)

58th to 59th, Kedzie to Whipple

49th & Artesian

53rd & Mozart

54th & Christiana

Garfield Ridge neighborhood 80s-present years

Sections of Garfield Ridge

49th & Lotus (Midway Latin Kings) 80s, 2000s-present years

51st & Lotus 90s-present

47th & Lockwood 2000s-present

47th to 49th, LaPorte to Cicero Ave 2010s-present years

49th & Lawler 2000s-present years

Heart of Chicago neighborhood Established 1966-1987

Sections of Pilsen

Coulter & Damen (Coulter Kings) Established 1966-1987

Hermosa neighborhood

Sections of Hermosa

Wellington & Kilpatrick

Irving Park neighborhood

Sections of Irving Park

Montrose to Bertau, Pulaski to Avers

Lakeview neighborhood 90s

Sections of Lakeview

Roscoe & Halsted 90s

Lincoln Park neighborhood Established 1966-2010s

Sections of Lincoln Park

Armitage & Sheffield

Armitage & Dayton Established 1966

Clybourn/Damen to Leavitt/Hoyne (Lathrop projects) Established 1975-2010s

Lincoln Square neighborhood 1975-present years

Sections of Lincoln Square

Leland & Rockwell

Leland & Virginia 70s-present years

Montrose from Damen to Ashland (Mackville) 90s-present years

Paulina & Cullom

Argyle & Washtenaw

Montrose & Paulina

Wilson & Wolcott

Little Village (Lower West Side) neighborhood Established 1962 as Marshall Kings, 1966-present as Latin Kings

Sections of Little Village

23rd & Spaulding

23rd & Whipple

24th & Christiana

24th & Drake (Chi Town Two Four)

24th & Marshall (The Boulevards) Established 1962 as Marshall Kings, 1966 as Latin Kings

Millard from 24th to 27th

24th & Sawyer

St. Louis from 24th to 25th (Coulter Side, Coulter Latin Kings)

Trumbull from 24th to 25th (Two Four Trumbull)

25th & Avers

25th & California (Lawndale projects) Established circa 1985 after Latin Counts left

25th & Coulter (Coulter Latin Kings)

25th & Spaulding (Spanish Harlem)

Drake from 25th to 27th

27th & Homan

Lawndale from 25th to 28th (Lawndale Latin Kings)

30th & Sawyer (Redrum City)

30th & Trumbull

31st & Drake (Drake Side)

30th to 31st, Kedzie to Sacramento (Redrum City)

24th to 26th, Kedzie to Christiana (Spanish Harlem)

21st to 31st, Lawndale to California (Chi Town)

26th to 25th, Hamlin to Central Park (Lawndale Latin Kings)

Logan Square neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Sections of Logan Square

Armitage & Kedzie to Whipple

Sawyer from North Ave to Cortland

Armitage & California

Cortland & Whipple

California & McClean

Armitage to Cortland, Kedzie to Humboldt

Shakespeare to North Ave, St. Louis to Kedzie (Nano World) Partially in West Humboldt Park

Point & California

Marshall Square (South Lawndale) neighborhood Established 1985-present years

Sections of Marshall Square

21st & California (Cal Two One) Established 1996 took over former Stone Kent turf

21st to Cermak, Marshall to Fairfield (Cal Two One) Established 1996 taken over former Stone Kent turf

Cermak to 25th, Albany to California

25th to 26th, California to Washtenaw (Lawndale Gardens projects) Established 1985-90s

Marquette Park (Chicago Lawn) neighborhood

Sections of Marquette Park

71st & Spaulding

71st & Avers

Near West Side neighborhood Established as as the Imperials 1953-1970s

Sections of the Near West Side

Madison to Van Buren, Laflin to Paulina Established 1953-1963

Newberry & Roosevelt Established 1962-1970s

North Center neighborhood

sections of North Center

Berwyn & Hoyne (Area 51)

Berwyn & Wolcott

Roscoe & Hoyne

Diversey Parkway & Hoyne and Leavitt (Lathrop Projects, Project Kings) Established 1975-2011

North Lawndale neighborhood

Sections of North Lawndale

21st & Albany

Portage Park neighborhood 80s, 90s, 2000s

School & Lavergne 80s, 90s, 2000s

Pullman neighborhood Established 1981-present years

Sections of Pullman

113th & Langley (Pullman Latin Kings, Langley Park) Established 1981-present years

115th & Champlain (Roseland Latin Kings) Established 1981-present years

Rogers Park neighborhood Established 1975-present years

Sections of Rogers Park

Columbia & Ashland (Bad Boys) Established 1985-present years

Rodgers to Toughy, Ridge to Clark (Pottawamie Park) Established 1975-present years

Devon & Clark

South Chicago neighborhood Established 1981-present years

Sections of South Chicago

82nd & Houston

Buffalo from 83rd to 84th (Bush Latin Kings)

84th & Burley (Bush Latin Kings)

88th & Exchange (88 D-Hate)

89th & Commercial

89th & Muskegon Established 1981

Escanaba from 89th to 90th (89 Big Time)

83rd to 86th, South Shore Dr to Green Bay (Bush Latin Kings)

South Shore neigbhorhood Established 1979-1980

Sections of South Shore

79th & Clarendon

Southern West Town neighborhood 1994-present years

Sections of southern West Town

Huron & Hoyne (Heaven and Hell)

Uptown neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Sections of Uptown

Foster to Lawrence, Ashland to Winthrop Established 1969-present years

Montrose & Hazel 1977-present years

Agitate & Hazel

Berwyn to Argyle, Broadway to Sheridan (The Uptown Triangle)

Lawrence to Sunnyside, Paulina to Clark (Chase Park) 1996-present years

West Elsdon neighborhood Established 1990-present years

Sections of West Elsdon

55th to 59th, Pulaski to Central Park Established 1990-present years

West Humboldt Park neighborhood Established as Ohio and Spaulding Kings 1960-present years

Sections of West Humboldt Park

Kedzie & Ohio 1960-1964 as Ohio and Spaulding Kings, 1964-1967 as Latin Kings

Shakespeare to North Ave, St. Louis to Kedzie (Nano World) Partially in Logan Square

Bloomingdale to Wabansia, Albany to Humboldt (Wild West)

North Ave to Grand, Kedzie to Central Park Ave (Motherland)

Bloomingdale to North Ave, Central Park to St. Louis

Hirsch & Kostner

West Ridge neighborhood Established 1979-present years

Sections of West Ridge

Rosemont & Claremont

Rosemont & Richmond

Peterson from Fairfield to California

Touhy to Lunt, Rockwell to Western (Indian Boundary Park)

Morse to Pratt, Bell to Ridge

Rosemont to Granville, Campbell to Western (Assyrian Latin Kings)

Wicker Park (West Town) neighborhood Established 1964-1972, return 1979-present years

Sections of Wicker Park

Leavitt & Schiller Established 1964-1972, return 1979-2000s

Damen & Crystal Established 1993-present years

Milwaukee & Honore Established 1979-1993

North Ave to Schiller, Bell to Leavitt Established 1979-mid-2010s

Suburb sections

Addison, IL Established 1986-present years

Argo, IL Established 1979

Aurora Established 1980-present years

Bedford Park, IL

Bensenville, IL Established 1980-present years

Berwyn, IL Established 1980-present years

Bloomington, IL Established 1980-present years

Blue Island, IL Established 1980-present years

Bolingbrook, IL Established 1980-present years

Bradley, IL

Bridgeview, IL

Calumet City, IL

Carpentersville, IL Established 1980-present years

Chicago Heights, IL

Cicero, IL Established 1966-present years 14th & 51st (The Ghetto), Cermak & 57th

Crest Hill, IL

Des Plains, IL

Dolton, IL

Downers Grove, IL

East Moline, IL

Elgin, IL Established 1980-present years

Evanston, IL

Franklin Park (The Jungle) Established 1976-late 1980s

Glendale Heights, IL

Glenview, IL

Hanover Park, IL

Hodgkins, IL

Hoffman Estates, IL

Joliet, IL Established 1980-present years

Kankakee, IL

Maywood, IL Established 1976- present years. First permanent suburb

Mount Prospect, IL

Naperville, IL

Palatine, IL

Plainfield, IL

Rockford, IL Established late 1970s-present years

Rochelle, IL

Rolling Meadows, IL

Romeoville, IL Established 1980-present years

Round Lake Beach, IL

Stone Park, IL Established later 1980s-present years

Summit Established 1979 61st & Archer, Harlem from 61st to 62nd (Harlem Homicide)

Waukegan, IL