On Sunday, May 17, 2015 a dispute between rival biker gang members took place at Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco, Texas. The gunfight left nine people dead and several others injured.
174 biker gang members were arrested. Each suspect has been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, with individual bonds set at $1 million by Justice of the Peace W.H. “Pete” Peterson. The rival gang members were placed in separate cells in the McLennan County Jail to avoid further violence.
“We’re not going to let them intermingle for the safety of the officers and for the safety of the prisoners,” said McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara who oversaw the book-in process.[1]
Biker gangs have been linked to crime and violence for decades. This particular event proved that these gangs are still as dangerous as ever. McLennan County law officials found brass knuckles, chains, knives and handguns in the Twin Peaks parking lot along with the dead bodies of nine people, all of which were biker gang members.
Texas law prohibits firing a gun in a public place, unless it’s in the event of self-defense. Individuals accused of unlawfully unloading a firearm in public will face a Class A misdemeanor charge if the event takes place in a town populated by over 100,000 people. Aggravated offenses are considered first-degree felonies, and can result in the accused receiving years to life in prison.
Meetings between rival biker gangs took place on a weekly basis at Waco’s Twin Peaks. Although law-enforcement officials were particularly concerned with the May 17th meeting, they didn’t anticipate a gun battle.
The Twin Peaks restaurant, located in the Central Texas Marketplace, was permanently closed by its corporate office on Monday, May 18, 2015.
“Texas will not stand for the type of lawlessness we witnessed in Waco yesterday,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “My office, along with law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels, is committed to providing any and all resources needed to support the Waco Police Department and the local community. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to protect innocent lives.” [2]
As of Thursday, May 28, 2015, three of the prisoners were released after bond reductions were approved by the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office. The three men are Austin, TX residents.
According to the Waco Tribune-Herald,“State District Judges Matt Johnson and Ralph Strother approved bond reductions from $1 million to $25,000 each for Jonathan Lopez, Theron Rhoten and Ryan Craft, members of the Vice Grips Motorcycle Club who ride antique Harley-Davidson motorcycles.”
If you or a loved one is accused of gang violence or organized criminal activity, you’re going to need a good attorney and a bail bondsman to get you out of the Travis County Jail. Call us 24 hours a day at 1 (800) 766-7002 for clear, concise and professional assistance from one of our bail agents. We will coordinate closely with your attorney to ensure you’re thoroughly informed of a legal proceedings every step of the way.
