Only 12 Shots Fired By Police At Waco Twin Peaks Biker Deadly Incident

Waco police released information indicating that 3 officers had actually fired 12 shots in self defense during the May 17 Twin Peaks police massacre of nine bikers resulting in 27 injuries by gunfire.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 13, 2015

Waco, Texas - On Friday, the Waco Police Department  (WPD) released information that indicated that only three Waco police officers assigned to the SWAT team fired their weapons in self-defense and actually only fired 12 rounds during the May 17 Twin Peaks Restaurant biker incident that resulted in nine biker homicides and 27 bikers reported injured. The latest information released by Waco police only shows another contradiction that was previously reported that more than a dozen rounds were recovered at the Twin Peaks Restaurant parking lot on the day of the incident. A lawsuit filed by the Don Carlos Restaurant against the Twin Peaks Restaurant claims that thousands of rounds were fired damaging multiple Don Carlos customers vehicles.

Police haven't confirmed that members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were also present, but law enforcement sources indicate they were at the scene along with Texas Rangers monitoring the Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents (TCCI) regional scheduled meeting.

So far, it seems the Waco Police Department and the McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna have sealed the video surveillance recording taken from the Don Carlos Restaurant and won't release it to media, which according to the latest information by Waco police indicates that the FBI has the video in question and is reviewing it. Autopsy reports of the nine bikers killed and other relevant evidence hasn't been released by police in an attempt to cover-up a Waco police massacre at the Twin Peaks, according to eye witnesses and bikers who were arrested. Police have cited that they don't want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation, so the information won't be released, which has cast doubt about the investigation itself, according to attorneys representing some of the bikers arrested and bonded. 

Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman nor McLennan County D.A. Reyna haven't admitted that the initial criminal affidavit warrants by Waco Police Detective Manuel Chavez were illegally served due to a lack of due process and individual probable cause hearings for each biker when the warrants were illegally signed by Justice of the Peace Walter H. Peterson who unlawfully set $1M bonds for some of the bikers arrested in May. Peterson is prohibited by Texas law to preside over felony cases involving jail terms and to set bonds.

A complaint has been filed against Justice of the Peace Peterson with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct claiming that Peterson illegally signed warrants without individual probable cause hearings, was bias and set excessive bonds for bikers violating his limited authority under state statues.

In a press release on Friday, the WPD stated, "...It is our intent to release regular updates, but the pace of developments is often beyond our control. We also do not want to release any information that would jeopardize the ongoing criminal investigation...there are a total of 44 shell casings recovered from the Twin Peaks scene. This number does not include the revolver rounds fired by non-law enforcement shooters. Those casings are still being counted. 12 of those casings were from the rifles of 3 Waco Officers who discharged their weapons in defense of their selves or a third party. The Waco SWAT Officers' weapons are .223 caliber rifles that are capable of full-auto fire; Officers only fired in semi-auto mode during the incident. There was no full-auto gunfire from any of the Officers at the scene. As is normal practice, rifles carried by the Waco SWAT Officers were deployed with sound suppressors. No other Officers fired rounds from any other weapon during the incident. The Officers involved in the shooting have been assigned administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

The number of weapons discovered during our search of the crime scene has increased since the first release and may continue to increase. The weapon count at this point in time is at least 475 weapons. This includes 151 firearms, 12 of which were long guns. The weapons recovered include: knives, brass knuckles, batons, tomahawks, weighted weapons, a hatchet, stun guns, bats, clubs, a machete, a pipe, an ax, pepper spray, and a chain...Videos of the incident have been transferred to FBI Investigators for analysis. Full autopsy and ballistics analysis is being conducted by outside labs and the completed and final results have not been returned to us as of this release...We initially impounded 130 motorcycles and 91 other vehicles. As of June 10, 2015, 52 motorcycles and 47 vehicles have been released to the owners. In addition to those, 12 of the motorcycles and 3 of the other vehicles were released to the lien holders due to repossession...There were 239 persons detained at the crime scene as result of the Twin Peaks shootings. At least 62 individuals were released from the crime scene or from the Convention Center without charges being filed. 177 persons were arrested that night or subsequently on warrants obtained by Detectives." The warrants served by Waco detectives were illegally served, according to attorneys representing the bikers that were falsely charged with engaging in organized crime.

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the Waco Police Department, the City of Waco and McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna by one of the bikers arrested. 

Currently, at least 60 bikers remain in jail unable to post bonds in the Waco Twin Peaks pending cases.

Editors note:

The Waco police Twin Peaks cases show a lack of accountability in this whole debacle of justice by certain criminals in law enforcement who openly use the law to commit crimes against citizens. The Texas Attorney General and governor including the U.S. Department of Justice should be ashame for not stepping in and launching an investigation into the mass corruption of justice by members of the Waco police, Texas Rangers, ATF and both the McLennan County D.A.'s Office and local judges as well as Waco City officials.