WACO (Texas), May 19: About 170 members of rival motorcycle gangs were charged with engaging in organised crime, a day after a shootout at a Texas restaurant that killed nine people and wounded 18.
The crowd of suspects was so large that authorities opened a convention centre to hold them all before they were arrested, police said yesterday.
The melee at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco drew a broad police response that included placing officers atop buildings and highway overpasses to watch for other bikers rushing to the scene to retaliate.
McLennan County Justice of the Peace WH Peterson set bond at USD 1 million for each suspect. He defended the high amount, citing the violence that quickly unfolded in a shopping market busy with a lunchtime crowd.
“We have nine people dead, because these people wanted to come down and what? Drink? Party?” Peterson said. “I thought it was appropriate.”
Peterson also performed inquests on the nine dead bikers but declined to identify them pending notification of family. Peterson says all nine were from Texas.
Police acknowledged firing on armed bikers, but it was unclear how many of the dead were shot by gang members and how many were shot by officers.
Waco police Sgt W Patrick Swanton said the Waco Convention Center was used to hold the suspects temporarily as police rushed to secure many parts of the city amid reports of rival bikers going elsewhere to continue the fight. Those at the convention centre were later taken to jail.
It’s too early to determine how many motorcycle gang members will face murder charges, Swanton said.
Five gangs had gathered at the restaurant as part of a meeting to settle differences over turf and recruitment. Prior meetings had been held at the restaurant, and managers there had dismissed police concerns over the gatherings, he said.
“They were not here to drink and eat barbecue,” Swanton said. “They came here with violence in mind.”
Twin Peaks a national chain that features waitresses in revealing uniforms yesterday revoked the franchise rights to the restaurant, which opened in August.
Company spokesman Rick Van Warner said in a statement that the management team chose to ignore warnings and advice from the company, and did not establish the “high security standards” that the company requires.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission yesterday issued a seven-day suspension of the restaurant’s liquor license, but owners had the option of reopening to serve meals.
Police and the restaurant operators were aware of Sunday’s meeting in advance, and 18 Waco officers in addition to state troopers were outside the restaurant when the fight began, Swanton said. (AGENCIES)
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