Gunn is the leader of a group of street kids, living in one of the less desireable areas of Los Angeles. They know about the evil that lurks under the surface of their city and are well prepared to take of it.

They live in a heavily fortified warehouse, laden with booby-traps to dust the unsuspecting vampire. They take the offencive also, driving out in a pick up truck with nifty fence-pole stake features and a roof-mounted stake gun. These aren't people who hide away from the vampires, they actively seek them out and destroy them.

Gunn has a hard responsibilty for one so young. Deserted when a child, he has had to care for his younger sister, Alonna, as they grew up and now he has to take care of all the street kids that live in the warehouse.

He first encounters Angel, when Angel strays onto his patch dealing with the blackmailer of one of his clients. He overhears Angel tell the blackmailer that this is his patch and he's not planning on moving, so Gunn decides to move him on himself, which end up with Angel being chased through the booby-trapped warehouse, only just managing to get through unscathed.

He proved to Gunn that he isn't your average vampire when he saves Alonna's life when she trips one of the traps, as a sharp, wooden bolt hurtles towards her Angel snaps out his arm and takes the bolt through his palm.

They have an uneasy alliance until Alonna is kidnapped by the local vampires and turned. Gunn is horrified to see this monster in his sister's body. She tells him that she can look after him now. He can't bear to see her like this and stakes her, before helping Angel.

Afterwards Angel tells him that he'd like to help Gunn and that one day he will turn to Gunn for help.

That day came quite quickly. A diversion is needed so Angel can break into Wolfram and Hart's building and Gunn is the obvious choice. In he walks as bold as brass and launches into a loud (and amusing) tirade about how Wolfram and Hart is the mecca for racist white people before releasing a vampire into the foyer.

Angel tracks down Gunn again a few days later. Gunn is being given food by a friendly resturant owner. Angel asks him to look after Cordelia and Wesley who are in the hospital. Gunn agrees.