My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King

Sanchez woke up filled with regret and fear about his acts of violence in the gang fight between the Gangsters and the Latin Kings. He wondered if Puerto Rico could afford him safety and questioned his decision to join the Latin Kings. Despite his hesitation, Sanchez found himself unable to muster the courage to back out, and he proceeded with his initiation into the gang.

The initiation ritual was a violent one, involving a three-minute beating by other gang members. Although the physical ordeal left him battered and in pain, he hid his discomfort to appear tough. Once the initiation was complete, he was formally welcomed as King Lil Loco, receiving a notebook of gang rules and prayers to memorize. Despite the applause and acceptance at the ceremony, Sanchez felt disillusioned.

Later, during a gang meeting, he witnessed the organization’s structured operations, including the allocation of funds for weapons and drugs. He realized that gang life was far more complex than he had imagined: It functioned like a criminal enterprise rather than the chaotic lifestyle he assumed it was. He was also exposed to the gang’s disciplinary system, observing the violent punishment of a young gang member named Slim for losing cocaine.