Heightened security measures remain in place as authorities comb over extensive crime scene in Waco the day after a shootout that left nine dead

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Police in Waco have charged 170 people with “organised crime in reference to ... capital murder” in what could potentially represent the largest mass arrest on a capital charge in American history.

They were arrested and charged in connection with a deadly shootout between rival biker gangs on Sunday in Waco, Texas, which left nine dead and 18 injured.

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“170 individuals are being booked and processed for engaging in organised crime; that organised crime is capital murder,” sergeant Patrick Swanton, a spokesperson for Waco police department, said in a press conference Monday, adding that the investigation was still ongoing.



When called for comment, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office in McLennan county said they were unable to confirm Swanton’s statement at this time.



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Heightened security measures were in place on Monday following the shootout on Sunday at a Twin Peaks restaurant, according to local police. Parts of downtown Waco remained locked down, with officials questioning motorcycle riders.

All those killed and injured were gang members, police said. The McLennan County sheriff, Parnell McNamara, whose office was involved in the investigation, said all nine who were killed were members of the Bandidos or Cossacks gangs.

The Bandidos are considered one of the world’s largest biker gangs – behind the Hells Angels – with as many as 2,500 members in 13 countries, according to the US Department of Justice. In a 2014 gang threat assessment, the Texas department of public safety classified the group as a “tier 2 threat”, the second highest.

On Monday morning, the restaurant and surrounding area were still littered with bullets and blood. Police said parts of the crime scene were yet to be processed.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nine gang members were killed in the shootout on Sunday. Link to video

The violence broke out shortly after midday in the Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill, in a busy shopping center on Interstate 35. Members of at least five gangs had gathered following disputes over turf and recruitment, Swanton said. Preliminary police findings indicated that a dispute broke out in a bathroom, escalated to include knives and firearms, and eventually spilled into the restaurant parking lot.

About 150 to 200 bikers were inside the restaurant during the shootout. Swanton said the investigation had recovered over 100 weapons used during the brawl.

Those injured suffered stab and gunshot wounds, Swanton said. A local television station, KWTX, reported that one hospital, White Hillcrest Medical Center, was placed on lockdown on Sunday.

Patrons and bystanders ran for safety, police said, as officers at the scene also opened fire. KWTX reported that some customers and employees took shelter in the restaurant’s freezer.

Police were already present at the scene because authorities were aware of the likelihood of trouble between the gangs, Swanton said, but “apparently the management [of the restaurant] wanted them here and so we didn’t have any say-so on whether they could be here or not”.

“What happened here today could have been avoided,” he said. “They [the restaurant management] failed and this is what happened.”

He added: “We have been made aware over two months that rival gangs are meeting here and that the potential for violence is increasing.” He said that police had attempted to get the local management to assist but they “would not cooperate”.

A statement on Sunday night on behalf of Jay Patel, operating partner for the Twin Peaks franchise in Waco, said: “Our management team has had ongoing and positive communications with the police.” The statement added that the restaurant was cooperating with the investigation.

Late on Sunday, Swanton addressed Patel’s statement, telling reporters it was a “fabrication”. He said police officers had “saved lives in keeping this from spilling into a very busy Sunday morning”.

“Thank goodness the officers were here,” he said, “and took the action that they needed to take to save numerous lives.”

A spokesperson for the Twin Peaks restaurant parent company issued a statement Monday saying that they were revoking the franchise from the Waco location.

“Unfortunately the management team of the franchised restaurant in Waco chose to ignore the warnings and advice from both the police and our company and did not uphold the high security standards we have in place to ensure everyone is safe at our restaurants”, the statement said. “We will not tolerate the actions of this relatively new franchisee.”

Julian Sher, an investigative journalist who has written several books on biker gangs, said: “It would be normal for police to monitor a meeting like this, even if they suspected no violence.”

The Waco incident would not tarnish the gangs’ image, Sher said – it might even help bolster recruitment.

Though gang leaders routinely got arrested, biker gangs, unlike the Mafia, did not have a pyramid structure, Sher said. “They have leaders but each chapter is very autonomous. The shooting won’t affect other chapters around the country or the world.”

Tom Zimmer, a member of the Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents – a group that campaigns for bikers’ rights – arrived at Twin Peaks shortly after the killings. “I don’t really know where this violence came from,” he said. “We were certainly not expecting anything like this to happen.”

He said his organization had been scheduled to attend a “political meeting” at Twin Peaks that night, but was not involved in the violence.



He said the group had held meetings at the Waco location previously without incident.

Swanton described the episode as “the most violent crime scene I have ever been involved in”, and told local reporters “there was blood everywhere”. It was not immediately clear if any of the nine dead were killed by police officers.

The restaurant will remain closed for at least seven days “due to the ongoing danger” it presents to the community, according to a police statement released on Monday. The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission is conducting a parallel investigation into an incident which raised the possibility of further violence.

On Sunday, after Waco police closed the busy marketplace area around the restaurant, Swanton said three armed gang members had been arrested when they attempted to enter the closed-off crime scene.

As well as local and state police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said its agents were at the scene.