Nine people are dead and several are injured after an apparent fight among members of two rival biker gangs at the Twin Peaks Restaurant in Waco, Texas, turned into a shootout Sunday afternoon.
“A lot of innocent people could’ve been hurt today,” police told local reporter Grant Hermes, whotweeted the statement. “There may have been more that could’ve been done by a business.” Guns weren’t the only part of the fight, according to a report from KCEN-TV, Waco, which reported combatants also used chains, knives, bats and clubs as well as firearms.
Local police say several people were killed during the fight that started around noon inside the restaurant and later spread to the parking lot. One person was pronounced dead at the hospital. The melee occurred as other patrons were eating lunch outside at the nearby Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant.
“We crouched down in front of our pick-up truck because that was the only cover we had,” said one man who had just finished eating lunch with his family when the gunfire broke out, according to KWTX-TV, Waco.
No officers were reported injured though police did say they were on the scene when shooting started. Police said the area is now secure, but warned residents to avoid it.
"Please avoid the Central Texas Market Place as the area is NOT safe," the Waco Police Department wrote on its Facebook page Sunday evening. "Officers are continuing to arrest individuals coming to the scene with weapons. This is not the time to sight see as we are dealing with very dangerous individuals."
