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Waco massacre: bikers told to stay off streets and Harley store stays shut
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Related: Texas police charge more than 170 people linked to deadly biker gang shootout
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The local Harley-Davidson dealership was closed, motorcycle riders were asked to stay off the roads and police snipers took to rooftops to watch Waco streets after a deadly gangland shooting caused many to cast a colder eye on bikers.
Police did not say how long the request would last.
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Riders asked the public to take a breath, relax and realize that criminality is the rare exception for members of motorcycle clubs.
Related: Waco biker gang shootout: What we know so far – and what we don't
Waco police said they have been threatened by motorcycle gangs after the Sunday shoot out between rivals at a Twin Peaks restaurant that left nine dead and 18 injured. They asked bikers to stay off the streets because it was difficult to distinguish between law-abiding riders and those bent on criminality.
Riders and supporters took to social media in defense of motorcycle clubs, mentioning charity work by organizations such as Bikers Against Child Abuse (Baca), a group that attends court appearances in support of victims.
“There are biker clubs out there who are not criminal. Not everyone who looks ‘bad’ is bad. And not everyone who looks ‘good’ is good,” wrote Waco resident Jennifer Parsons on the police department’s Facebook page.
Related: Waco shootout: who are the Bandidos motorcycle gang?
Harley-Davidson Waco, located about half a mile from the crime scene, was closed indefinitely at the request of police, according to its Facebook page.
“We will be working closely with Waco PD to determine when it is safe to reopen. They have also requested that you avoid riding in the area if you have another form of transportation,” the shop posted.
One of the groups involved in the Texas shooting, the Bandidos, was listed by the US justice department as an outlaw motorcycle gang that produces and peddles drugs.
Twin Peaks, known for its scantily clad waitresses, said in a statement it was suspending all “bike nights” at its corporate-owned locations and encouraging franchises to do the same during the investigation.
Several locations in Texas announced they were postponing Monday’s planned bikini contest and offered prayers to those affected by the shooting.
Finding motorcycles in downtown Waco stores proved difficult on Monday. The most obvious ones were the 100 or so in the Twin Peaks parking lot belonging to the 170 people arrested in Sunday’s violent fight.
