Spanish Cobras

The Spanish Cobras is a primarily, but not exclusively, Latino gang started by Puerto Rican teens in Chicago during the late 1950s. The Cobras are considered the second-largest Latino Folk gang on the north and northwest side, with the Maniac Latin Disciples being the first.

In the early 1970's, Richard "King Cobra” Medina became leader of the Spanish Cobras at Campbell & Potomac in Humboldt Park. He was killed in a drive-by in 1979, but during his reign Medina started the Young Cobras and had them fight other gangs for Artesian & Potomac “A-Town” and Mozart & Cortland “Sin City”. He expanded the Spanish Cobras from the Division & Maplewood area into West Humboldt Park at Ridgeway & Thomas, and in the neighborhood of LeMoyne & Springfield and Springfield & Hirsch which branches into Avers & Hirsch “Westown Cobras”.

The Spanish Cobras were introduced to the world when they stabbed a Latin King during the 1977 Puerto Rican Parade. That became the catalyst for the Humboldt Park Riots when the Kings retaliated later that day. As the two gangs fought, Chicago Police shot into the crowd killing two innocent bystanders, causing the community to riot.

The Insane Spanish Cobras made headlines again in Spring of 1979 during their bloody war with the Insane Unknowns which resulted in over 10 homicides and a public response from Mayor Jane Byrne.

In the 1980s, according to criminologist John Haggerdon's book Insane the Chicago Way, "What began to take shape was the daring plan of gang leaders incarcerated in Statesville—Fernando "Prince Fernie" Zayas from the Maniac Latin Disciples, Anibal "Tuffy C" Santiago from the Insane Spanish Cobras, and David Ayala from the Two Sixers—to create a local Latino Mafia"

Cobra sets aggressively opened across the Northwest side on Fullerton Ave and along Central Park Ave. Monticello & Cortland "Murder City" branched into Lawndale & Cortland. In the summer of 1989 Francis & Stave YLO Cobras attacked the Simon City Royals in a series of fights and shootouts to take over Kosciusko Park, opening Schubert & Avers.

Spanish Cobras are members of Folks and sworn enemies of all People gangs. The Spanish Cobras and Latin Disciples were strong allies in the 1970s and 1980s, but began deadly turf wars over drug territory around 1993. By 1996, the war made the Chicago Tribune.[1] That same year, in retaliation for the murder of a high ranking member, West-Town Cobras shot up a Latin King wedding resulting in casualties. The shooting was caught on videotape then broadcast on local news stations.

After a nine month undercover narcotics investigation, in January 1998 the Chicago Police Department arrested 31 Spanish Cobras in "Operation: Mongoose", including some gang leaders. This resulted in the closure of a couple Cobra sections.

As head of the Insane Familia, the Spanish Cobras took the alliance of Insane Deuces, Insane Dragons, Orchestra Albany and others to war against the Maniacs and Almighty Folks.

Within Chicago, the neighborhoods with the strongest active Insane and YLO Spanish Cobra presence are Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Logan Square, Belmont-Cragin, Albany Park and Kelvyn Park. They are also found in the suburbs of Waukegan, Bensenville and Cicero, with a small presence in the McKinley Park area on the south side (34th & Western). Known to operate in other parts of Illinois, as well as Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha in Wisconsin, and Detroit and are quite large in Flint, Michigan. [2] Law enforcement has reported Spanish Cobras in Ohio, Connecticut and South Florida.