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Part 3: Alex Sanchez on Making a Bet with His Friend on Who Could Make It to Prison First
Part 1: Alex Sanchez on Fleeing El Salvador & Getting Jumped into MS-13, Details Gang's Origins
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Alex Sanchez sheds light on the harrowing realities of gang life with MS-13 and how machetes became synonymous with the gang's violent reputation. Reflecting on the tragic murder of his friend Rocky, who was shot and killed in Koreatown, Sanchez recounts how this incident marked a turning point in the gang’s evolution. Previously characterized by fistfights and schoolyard rumbles involving chains, knives, and bats, the introduction of firearms by rival gangs shifted the landscape to one where guns signaled a new level of danger. With limited access to firearms, MS-13 turned to machetes, which, as Sanchez notes, were accessible and could instill fear despite their traditional use as agricultural tools. He recalls the iconic imagery of long-haired gang members brandishing machetes, reminiscent of horror film antagonists—a strategy that was as much about psychological intimidation as it was about survival.
