# Waco biker war **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 18, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312 "2015-05-18T17:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/1 "2015-05-18T17:06:21Z")
So am I the only one who looked at the news stories of this massive biker gunfight in Waco and thought, “Huh… I thought the _Sons of Anarchy_ finale was back in December…” Nine dead, many injured, “hundreds” of weapons amid the bodies and blood, 192 arrests. You can’t make this shit up… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/2 "2015-05-18T17:08:38Z")
What started it? Did they just happen to stumble upon one another or what? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/3 "2015-05-18T17:12:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What started it? Did they just happen to stumble upon one another or what? Anything but. This chain restaurant opened recently and decided it wanted to be Waco’s hardcore biker haven, so (for reasons yet unknown) big factions of three clubs met there, with some kind of trouble in the wind. The cops couldn’t do anything because the restaurant had invited them and said it was okay for them to stay, so a dozen Waco PD just stood around waiting for the detonation. So, so very SOA. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/4 "2015-05-18T17:35:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What started it? Did they just happen to stumble upon one another or what? Someone disrespected the memory of the Night Rider in front of Toecutter and his gang. Fom that point forward it was on. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/5 "2015-05-18T17:39:53Z")
Just more fucking thugs doing thuggish things. Some men never grow up, and now nine never will. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/6 "2015-05-18T17:43:16Z")
Well, to be fair, Twin Peaks is sort of a Hooters clone, but with an outdoorsy theme and slightly less clothing. I imagine the bikers picked it for that reason. I disagree with the Waco cops trying to push blame onto the restaurant management; they have no obligation to turn away a LOT of what are probably normally good customers, just because the Waco PD doesn’t like them. They’re in the business of serving food, not enforcing the law. Plus, what restaurant manager in their right mind is going to go to a bunch of violent bikers like this and demand that they leave? If the Waco PD was so worried, why didn’t it have a dozen cops in the place all the time? Seems like they got caught with their dicks in their hands, and are trying to blame the restaurant now. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/7 "2015-05-18T18:00:10Z")
The Twin Peaks chain sides with the Waco cops, citing concern for the safety of their customers. They’re revoked the franchise from the Waco business partnership (Patel). Apparently this has been building, a feud, for some time. Things were starting to escalate, the cops tried to defuse it beforehand with local TP management, who refused. Fortunately lots of cops, SWAT included, were there when it all went south. Bikers started fist fighting, then stabbing, then shooting each other and then shot at cops. The cops shot back and, obviously, their aim was a whole hell of a lot better. Now these guys face a litany of organized criminal activity, weapons, murder and assault charges. I’d lived in Waco off and on for a dozen years, but not for awhile. I don’t know Twin Peaks personally but this really isn’t very ‘Waco-like.’ This is just a Hooters-like spot that’s right on a major interstate in the central part of the state and is kind of a middle ground between Dallas-Ft Worth, Austin and San Antonio. Almost all of these guys rode in from elsewhere when the call went out to defend various club’s honor, turf, what have you. Crazy shit but it could have happened anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/8 "2015-05-18T18:01:14Z")
Yes, nine dead, and many injured. We don’t know what part the Waco PD played in this event. Just sayin we need more information ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/9 "2015-05-18T18:04:03Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Yes, nine dead, and many injured. We don’t know what part the Waco PD played in this event. Just sayin we need more information Yeah… this uncontrolled police violence needs to stop NOW! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/10 "2015-05-18T18:08:42Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Apparently this has been building, a feud, for some time. Things were starting to escalate, the cops tried to defuse it beforehand with local TP management, who refused. Fortunately lots of cops, SWAT included, were there when it all went south. Bikers started fist fighting, then stabbing, then shooting each other and then shot at cops. The cops shot back and, obviously, their aim was a whole hell of a lot better. Now these guys face a litany of organized criminal activity, weapons, murder and assault charges. Hold on a sec. If there were cops, SWAT teams, etc. on hand when this happened, how did it manage to escalate from brawl to stabbing to shooting? What were the cops doing while all this was going on? Were they too busy oogling the waitresses? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/11 "2015-05-18T18:12:22Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Hold on a sec. If there were cops, SWAT teams, etc. on hand when this happened, how did it manage to escalate from brawl to stabbing to shooting? What were the cops doing while all this was going on? Were they too busy oogling the waitresses? :dubious: The press releases say it started in a restroom. I guess they didn’t follow them in there… understandable. Apparently once it started it escalated very quickly. There were innocent customers in the restaurant. They migrated to the kitchen coolers with the waitstaff to try and get out of harm’s way. By some miracle none of them were injured. I’m just guessing, perhaps all law enforcement was stationed outside with the bikes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/12 "2015-05-18T18:20:34Z")
To be honest I was wondering if there were any biker gangs left. I know the Hell’s Angels had gone corporate and going to Sturgis it seemed like most of the bikes were trailered in and were just people who like motorcycling and the culture. Also my special needs group has 2 biker groups doing fundraisers for it. So I honestly was wondering if this type of biker was just for tv anymore. Looks like they do so the wannabees should think about staying away from biker events. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/13 "2015-05-18T18:22:30Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Well, to be fair, Twin Peaks is sort of a Hooters clone, but with an outdoorsy theme and slightly less clothing. I imagine the bikers picked it for that reason. > > I disagree with the Waco cops trying to push blame onto the restaurant management; they have no obligation to turn away a LOT of what are probably normally good customers, just because the Waco PD doesn’t like them. They’re in the business of serving food, not enforcing the law. Plus, what restaurant manager in their right mind is going to go to a bunch of violent bikers like this and demand that they leave? > > If the Waco PD was so worried, why didn’t it have a dozen cops in the place all the time? Seems like they got caught with their dicks in their hands, and are trying to blame the restaurant now. Yeah, no need to read the plethora of articles out there and ge the facts, let’s just make crap up so we can blame the cops. Nice. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/14 "2015-05-18T18:27:59Z")
Apparently there were additional scuffles and fights in various places around town for hours later and there was a strong indication that the word had gone out for still more club members from afar to come join in the fray. That would be pretty damn stupid, not only are their brothers already locked up but there’s law enforcement everywhere and they’re very ready for more trouble. They (police) put the word out too for these guys to stay away but that if any one did come there would be plenty of room for them too in the McLennan County jail. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/15 "2015-05-18T18:35:19Z")
I’m at least a little intrigued that the Waco PD had room in their cells for a couple hundred detainees, and, according to one comment somebody made about all the people who may be flocking there so they can riot (or support their brethren), there’s still room for lots more… ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/16 "2015-05-18T18:43:03Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Yeah… this uncontrolled police violence needs to stop NOW! > :rolleyes: If you recall, Waco has had problems before. Maybe they didn’t learn anything from that massacre? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/17 "2015-05-18T18:44:32Z")
The Bandidos MC territory covers a large swath of Texas. The Cossacks MC had begun building a presence and recruiting in central Texas, including Waco. Apparently these two MC’s don’t get along very well, especially the Bandidos not liking the Cossacks encroaching on their territory. The Sunday meeting at Twin Peaks, apparently had been planned for a while to negotiate a _Turf Summitt_. The local police knew this has happening which is why they were present as well, along with their SWAT units, hoping for a peaceful meeting. Seems like each of the two rival MC’s brought along a few other affiliated MC’s such as the Scimitars, etc. There were well over 200 club members from up to 5 different MC’s on the scene. A fight broke out in the restroom, which then erupted into shooting, stabbing, etc. into the restaurant and spilling out into the parking lot. Luckily no non-MC related people were injured. Waco PD upon seeing the violence pour out of the restaurant, fired into the air, to attempt bring the violence to an end. All of the fatalities were initiated by other gang members. Over 170 people were arrested. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/18 "2015-05-18T18:47:30Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > If you recall, Waco has had problems before. Maybe they didn’t learn anything from that massacre? The city of Waco unfairly gets a bad rep for that. The Branch Davidian compound was actually located in Elk, Texas, not in Waco. But since in 1993, GPS apps hadn’t been invented yet, and the dumb-ass media covering the story, only knew they were near Waco. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/19 "2015-05-18T19:00:26Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > The city of Waco unfairly gets a bad rep for that. The Branch Davidian compound was actually located in Elk, Texas, not in Waco. But since in 1993, GPS apps hadn’t been invented yet, and the dumb-ass media covering the story, only knew they were near Waco. Must have been that dumb-ass TV reporter who asked the loon’s brother-in-law for directions to the raid. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312/20 "2015-05-18T19:07:42Z")
[Here’s](http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2015/05/18/bulletin-tensions-bandidos-cossacks-rival-biker-gangs-texas/27531291/) a pretty good article from a Dallas station talking about the escalation of tensions in the last few months and why. It also says there’s credible evidence gang members may blame law enforcement for some of the deaths and may try to extract a measure of revenge for those casualties. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waco-biker-war/720312.md?page=2)