Nine dead, 18 injured in bloody Waco biker brawl
WACO — Nine people were killed and 18 other people were injured in a confrontation involving motorcycle gangs at a Twin Peaks restaurant on the south side of Waco early Sunday afternoon.
Waco police spokesman Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said some of the dead and wounded may have been struck by gunfire from law enforcement.
"They started shooting at our officers and our officers returned fire," he said.
The wounded were suffering from gunshot and stab wounds, Swanton said, and that the two most seriously injured individuals have already been transferred to other hospitals for advanced treatment.
"It is a pretty gruesome scene," Swanton said, adding that investigators from multiple agencies were dealing with dead bodies, shell casings, knives, clubs and other paraphernalia at the Central Texas Marketplace shopping center.
"In 34 years of law enforcement, this is the worst crime scene, the most violent crime scene that I have ever been involved in," he added.
Waco police Sgt. Patrick Swanton described the scene and the evidence that was being collected Sunday afternoon.
Swanton said there had been at least three arrests and that a number of people were being detained for questioning.
"We will file the most significant charge on those individuals that we can," Swanton said. "Law enforcement is taking this very serious to keep our citizens safe."
Officers arrived at the restaurant shortly after noon after a conflict was reported between at least two biker gangs. The altercation apparently began with an argument inside the restaurant which escalated and moved into the parking lot.
Swanton told the Waco Tribune-Herald that police had been monitoring a meeting between two gangs when the violence erupted.
No police officers were injured.
Swanton said authorities were concerned that gang members were moving to other parts of the city to continue the confrontation elsewhere.
"We are getting intel that there may be additional biker gang members headed this way. We will deal with them as appropriate, if and when they do show up in our area," Swanton said.
Police ordered the entire Central Texas Marketplace closed for the safety of employees and patrons.
Watch Sgt. Swanton's entire update on the investigation in the video below: