Miklo is a man of Mexican and White American ethnicity who grew up in El Pico Aliso barrio in east Los Angeles. Upon moving back home from Las Vegas, Nevada, Miklo goes to stay with his two cousins Paco and Cruz. Miklo tells Cruz that he wants to join their gang ''Vatos Locos''. While Paco is initially skeptical, Miklo later proves himself when he performs an attack on a rival gang, ''Tres Puntos''. Afterwards he is made a member of ''Vatos Locos''.