Texas bikers in deadly shootout at Waco restaurant

Gunfire erupted Sunday among rival biker gangs in a restaurant in Waco, Texas, leaving at least nine people dead, according to police.
Authorities had anticipated trouble and pre-positioned officers.
'There were at least three rival gang groups here this morning for whatever reason. As they were here, we had officers on scene. We expected issues,' said Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton, a police spokesman. He later said there were at least five gangs.

The fight broke out at Twin Peaks restaurant and spilled into the parking lot. It quickly escalated from hands and feet, as weapons, to knives and then to gunfire.
To escape the fight, some restaurant customers and employees took cover in the freezer, according to a local television station. The station reported that more than 100 weapons were recovered, and Waco police said officers were continuing to arrest people arriving with weapons.
Swanton told reporters that eight people were dead on the scene and another was pronounced dead at an area hospital. A total of 18 people were taken to the hospital. It was not immediately clear whether that figure included the person who died. All those injured or dead are believed to be bikers.
No officers were hurt, Swanton said, praising their response.
'Their action has saved lives in keeping this from spilling into a very busy Sunday morning,' the spokesman said. 'Thank goodness the officers were here, and took the action that they needed to take to save numerous lives.'

Police has arrested about 100 bikers in connection with the Waco shootout

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara later said all nine who were killed were members of the Banditos or Cossacks gangs, according to the Associated Press news agency.
'These are very dangerous hostile biker gangs,' Sgt. Swanton said. 'A lot of innocent people could have been injured today.'
One witness said he and his family had just finished their lunch and walked into the car park when they heard gunshots.


'We crouched down in front of our pick-up truck because that was the only cover we had,' the witness - who asked not to be named - was quoted as saying.
Sgt Swanton said there were concerns that groups involved in the shooting may have moved to other locations in and around Waco.
Several nearby roads were closed, and police asked residents to avoid the area until an all-clear was issued.