WACO, Texas — Dramatic surveillance video shows the shootout between police and biker clubs that ended with nine dead and 177 arrested in May.
The Waco Police department denies releasing the video, which was obtained by CNN.
(Scroll down for video) — On May 17, 2015, in Waco, Texas, a shootout erupted at a Twin Peaks restaurant where members of several motorcycle clubs (MC), including the Bandidos, Cossacks, and allies, had gathered for a regularly scheduled meeting about political rights for motorcyclists.
Police, including a SWAT team, had gathered to monitor them from outside, and opened fire on the bikers after the shootout started.
The conflict began sometime after noon, according to Waco police who had been monitoring motorcycle club activity at the Twin Peaks restaurant.
Initial reports say the original conflict began, allegedly over a parking spot where “someone had their foot run over”, and the fight escalated from there. At 12:24 p.m., gunfire erupted.
Waco Police Sergeant W. Patrick Swanton declined to reveal details regarding how many of the dead and injured were shot by police, though he added it was possible that some of the victims had been shot by officers, saying that “They started shooting at our officers and our officers returned fire.”
In total, nine bikers died and eighteen others were injured. All of the fatalities, as well as the majority of those injured during the melee, suffered gunshot wounds.
The shootout was the deadliest and most high-profile event in the Waco area since the Waco siege of the Branch Davidian compound in 1993.
Video report below, followed by raw video:
