My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King

Sanchez details how the gang scene spiraled further into violence and chaos. On his 17th birthday, Sanchez and a Spanish Lords member named Pietro were lured by three seductive women into a trap set by rival Cobras. Realizing their peril too late, they were attacked near Humboldt Park. Sanchez narrowly escaped by leaping from a moving car, injuring his ankle, while Pietro struggled to seize control of the vehicle. Amid gunfire, they fled on foot, with Sanchez fending off attackers and helping Pietro, who was shot in the leg. Sanchez also managed to escape the police.

One summer, Sanchez realized that the gang wars were less about loyalty or revenge and more about control over drug territories. He explains that the Latin Kings operated as a drug empire led by unseen, affluent adults, while young members like Sanchez fought and died on the streets. He observed that his brief interaction with high-ranking leaders earned him privileges and respect but that police attention made him a liability, relegating him back to being a street soldier.

During a Fourth of July celebration, a gang trip out of the city ended in a violent shootout with Cobras, leading to innocent casualties.