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| Police beg for biker gang truce but fear more violence: 'Is this over? Likely not' | Police beg for biker gang truce but fear more violence: 'Is this over? Likely not' |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| The motorcycle gang gun battle in Waco, Texas, that left nine people dead, 18 injured and 170 charged with organized crime offenses in reference to capital murder may have been started when a biker’s foot was run over in a parking lot, police said on Tuesday. | The motorcycle gang gun battle in Waco, Texas, that left nine people dead, 18 injured and 170 charged with organized crime offenses in reference to capital murder may have been started when a biker’s foot was run over in a parking lot, police said on Tuesday. |
| And the bloody brawl could be followed by further violence, warned Sergeant Patrick Swanton of the Waco police department. | And the bloody brawl could be followed by further violence, warned Sergeant Patrick Swanton of the Waco police department. |
| “I will tell you that in the gang world and in the biker world, that violence usually condones more violence,” he said. “Is this over? Most likely not. We would like it to be. We would ask that there be some type of truce between whatever biker gangs are involved.” | “I will tell you that in the gang world and in the biker world, that violence usually condones more violence,” he said. “Is this over? Most likely not. We would like it to be. We would ask that there be some type of truce between whatever biker gangs are involved.” |
| The altercation at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco involved as many as five motorcycle gangs, Swanton said. | The altercation at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco involved as many as five motorcycle gangs, Swanton said. |
| A “coalition” of gangs gathered at the restaurant for a meeting on Sunday, possibly for recruitment, when another gang showed up uninvited. | A “coalition” of gangs gathered at the restaurant for a meeting on Sunday, possibly for recruitment, when another gang showed up uninvited. |
| That transgression in the parking lot spread into the restaurant, bar and bathroom, where there may have been other, separate incidents. | That transgression in the parking lot spread into the restaurant, bar and bathroom, where there may have been other, separate incidents. |
| Police responded immediately, as shots were fired first at other bikers then police. The violence on Sunday afternoon left a bloody scene from which nearly 100 weapons were collected. | Police responded immediately, as shots were fired first at other bikers then police. The violence on Sunday afternoon left a bloody scene from which nearly 100 weapons were collected. |
| Detectives in Waco are continuing to sift through the evidence. Meanwhile, in jails elsewhere, police are beginning to interrogate the 170 individuals arrested in and around the melee, most being held on $1m bond. Three gang members were mistakenly released from jail Tuesday, the Waco Tribune reported. | Detectives in Waco are continuing to sift through the evidence. Meanwhile, in jails elsewhere, police are beginning to interrogate the 170 individuals arrested in and around the melee, most being held on $1m bond. Three gang members were mistakenly released from jail Tuesday, the Waco Tribune reported. |
| Members of the gangs have disputed the police’s characterization of the afternoon. An attorney who regularly represents bikers told the LA Times that the meetings were usually held every other month without violence. | Members of the gangs have disputed the police’s characterization of the afternoon. An attorney who regularly represents bikers told the LA Times that the meetings were usually held every other month without violence. |
| And there are conflicting reports about how and where the brawl started. | And there are conflicting reports about how and where the brawl started. |
| As well as the run-over foot theory, police have also speculated that a parking incident or a “turf war” might be to blame for the shoot-out. On Monday they told reporters it probably began in the Twin Peaks bathroom. | As well as the run-over foot theory, police have also speculated that a parking incident or a “turf war” might be to blame for the shoot-out. On Monday they told reporters it probably began in the Twin Peaks bathroom. |
| The LA Times has claimed the fight resulted from a long-running dispute over a territorial patch, also known as a “bottom rocker”, between the Cossacks and Bandidos, both present Sunday. | The LA Times has claimed the fight resulted from a long-running dispute over a territorial patch, also known as a “bottom rocker”, between the Cossacks and Bandidos, both present Sunday. |
| It could take weeks, if not months, to piece together individual actions from the violence, police said. | It could take weeks, if not months, to piece together individual actions from the violence, police said. |
| The location was calm on Tuesday afternoon. The area surrounding Twin Peaks was cordoned off by crime scene tape and police blocked off entrances to the bar and restaurant, which is at the intersection of two busy freeways. | The location was calm on Tuesday afternoon. The area surrounding Twin Peaks was cordoned off by crime scene tape and police blocked off entrances to the bar and restaurant, which is at the intersection of two busy freeways. |
| The vast crime scene extends through a parking lot and many public parts of Twin Peaks, a franchise now shut down permanently. Flatbed tow trucks are removing more than 130 motorcycles and 80 cars and trucks from the restaurant parking lot, most with police and Swat team escorts to assure the safety of drivers. | The vast crime scene extends through a parking lot and many public parts of Twin Peaks, a franchise now shut down permanently. Flatbed tow trucks are removing more than 130 motorcycles and 80 cars and trucks from the restaurant parking lot, most with police and Swat team escorts to assure the safety of drivers. |
| While most of the sprawling Central Texas MarketPlace mall was open and business carried on as normal, the stores closest to Twin Peaks, including a Bed Bath and Beyond, a Best Buy and Cavender’s Boot City, remained shut. “They are assisting us by staying closed,” Swanton told the Guardian. The Harley-Davidson dealership a short walk from Twin Peaks was also still closed, the parking lot blocked off with yellow tape. | |
| Swanton said that violence among motorcycle gangs was not unknown in the area but “nothing this violent”. A Bandidos member was beaten up near Waco in March this year. | Swanton said that violence among motorcycle gangs was not unknown in the area but “nothing this violent”. A Bandidos member was beaten up near Waco in March this year. |
| In addition to the criminal actions of gang members, Waco police are working with outside agencies to investigate how many officers fired on gang members. Police estimate that between three and four officers fired their weapons. | In addition to the criminal actions of gang members, Waco police are working with outside agencies to investigate how many officers fired on gang members. Police estimate that between three and four officers fired their weapons. |
| The public is unlikely to learn the names of the deceased immediately, as police are still working to reach next of kin. Seven people remain hospitalized, all in stable condition and most improving, Swanton said. At least one Austin city employee was arrested on Sunday, the Austin-American Statesman reported. | The public is unlikely to learn the names of the deceased immediately, as police are still working to reach next of kin. Seven people remain hospitalized, all in stable condition and most improving, Swanton said. At least one Austin city employee was arrested on Sunday, the Austin-American Statesman reported. |
| The police response was “instantaneous”, according to Swanton, who said that officers were stationed in nearby driveways and parking lots. On Sunday, bars and restaurants closed early for fear that bikers would gather following the incident. Neighboring police departments have also gathered in the city, patrolling the streets and eyeing motorcycles, Swanton said. Many of the bikers, Swanton said, were not from Waco, though their cities and states of residence have not been released. | The police response was “instantaneous”, according to Swanton, who said that officers were stationed in nearby driveways and parking lots. On Sunday, bars and restaurants closed early for fear that bikers would gather following the incident. Neighboring police departments have also gathered in the city, patrolling the streets and eyeing motorcycles, Swanton said. Many of the bikers, Swanton said, were not from Waco, though their cities and states of residence have not been released. |
| In addition to patrols for motorcycles gatherings, police are also investigating “credible” threats against law enforcement. Those, said Swanton, have diminished as the investigation goes on. | In addition to patrols for motorcycles gatherings, police are also investigating “credible” threats against law enforcement. Those, said Swanton, have diminished as the investigation goes on. |
| “There has been enough tragedy and enough bloodshed in Waco, Texas – we would appreciate there not be any more.” | “There has been enough tragedy and enough bloodshed in Waco, Texas – we would appreciate there not be any more.” |