More than 170 face charges in deadly Texas melee

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Twin Peaks closed after biker shootout, 192 arrested A Waco, Texas Twin Peaks is shut down for seven days for safety concerns following a gang shootout that left nine dead and 18 wounded. 192 people were arrested and charged with engaging in organized crime.

More than 190 people were being arrested and charged Monday after a bloody melee at a Texas restaurant left nine people dead and 18 wounded, police said.

The riot at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco involved rival motorcycle gangs armed with guns, knives, clubs, chains and other weapons, police said.

Police issued a statement saying 192 people "will all face Engaging in Organized Crime charges. They are being booked and processed at this time. McLennan County District Attorney is involved in our investigation and has been assisting us throughout the night."

Waco Police Department Sgt. Patrick Swanton later said the number of people charged was at least 170. The charge, due to the deaths, is a capital offense, he added. Texas is a death penalty state.

Waco Police Department Sgt. Patrick Swanton said the fight began in the Twin Peaks restroom before escalating and spilling out into the parking lot. Swanton said police had learned that a gang "recruitment" event was taking place at Twin Peaks. He said police tried to keep the gathering from happening, but that restaurant management refused to cooperate.

"Still a very active crime scene this morning at Twin Peaks," Swanton said. "Our investigation will continue throughout the day. Crime scene is littered with bullets, blood and other evidence. Civilian as well as police units with bullet holes remain to be processed."

The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission issued a "summary suspension" closing the Twin Peaks for at least 7 days, the police statement said.

"This is not a punitive action on TABC's part but done due to the ongoing danger it presents to our community," the police statement said. "They are conducting a parallel investigation and further action may be forthcoming."

Jay Patel, identified as a operating partner of the restaurant, issued a statement promising to cooperate with police.

"We are horrified by the criminal, violent acts that occurred outside of our Waco restaurant," Patel said. We share in the community's trauma. ... Our management team has had ongoing and positive communications with the police and we will continue to work with them as we all want to keep violent crime out of our businesses and community."

Swanton dismissed the statement as "an absolute fabrication."

Swanton said all of the dead and injured were "members of criminal biker gangs." Police officers as well as bystanders at the shopping center and a nearby restaurant when the shootout spilled into the parking lot were "unscathed," he said.

One officer at the scene was hospitalized due to a heat-related issue, he said.