The Effect of The 1% Biker Wars in Waco, Texas

Eight Cossack and one Bandido Nation 1% bikers were killed at Waco.
170 rival bike club members are in jail w/bond set at $1 million each.

There is concern in the riding community that what happened in Waco will dampen the public's opinion about motorcycle riders -- especially at a time when so many riders will be on the nation's roadways over the Memorial Day Weekend.


Memorial Day Weekend is a time when thousands of motorcycle riders are on the roadways -- including an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 riders from across the country riding together to participate in the annual Rolling Thunder Freedom Ride/ DC  that is a healing event for many war veterans.

For most people, who enjoy riding the open roads together as part of a "brotherhood" that is second-to-none, the violence in Waco makes no sense!  "They are ruining this for the majority of motorcycle riders, who are great people and not criminals" is the sentiment shared across the web. 

So what happened in Waco?

It was supposed to be a typical get-together of the Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents, an umbrella group that meets every two or three weeks, which is usually attended by two or three members of various motorcycle clubs. 

"We are not street gangs," says Gimmi Jimmy,
national ambassador for Bandido Nation.

"We have been doing this for 18 years" without a problem, Gimmi Jimmy told a NY Times reporter. "We discuss things like biker rights, but no individual club business is talked about," said Jimmy, who is chairman of the state group and also national ambassador for the Bandidos. 

In the New York Times interview, Jimmy said representatives of the Bandidos club were part of the meeting, but "the other side" -- The Cossacks and Scimitars -- were at the Twin Peaks sports bar in Waco, but they were not part of the meeting.

Jimmy said he's not in jail because he arrived late to the meeting. He did not share what might have triggered the fight in the bathroom that spilled into the bar, and then out into the parking lot. Eight Cossacks and one Bandido were killed in the gunfight, he said.

"It's all about territory," said Edward Winterhalder, a former Bandido who has written more than a dozen books about outlaw bikers. "The Bandidos told the Cossacks to remove the third-rocker TEXAS from their 3-piece cut, and the Cossacks chose to ignore the warning."

The Bandidos club was founded in 1966 in Texas, and the Cossacks club was founded in 1969 in Texas. But the Bandido Nation has grown to be the largest outlaw club in the world, and feels they own Texas.

"The Waco episode was a challenge to the Bandidos' pre-eminence by less established organizations," said Don Charles Davis, who writes the biker blog, "The Aging Rebel." 

"A lot of the newer members are veterans, and they want to prove their independence and equality," Davis said in the article. "It's a generational thing that is reshaping the culture."

The "1% outlaw club" distinction dates back to 1947

All clubs not sanctioned by the American Motorcyclists' Association (AMA) were labeled "1% outlaw clubs" and banned from all future AMA bike events after the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club made headlines at an AMA-sponsored event in Hollister, California in 1947 that was the basis for the movie, "The Wild One."

The AMA (founded in 1924 to organize events sponsored by bike manufacturers) wrote a scathing article in their magazine shortly after the disastrous event, stating that "99% of all motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens and only 1% are outlaws." 

Today, the AMA represents 235,000 members and hundreds of riding clubs, including H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) and the Jackpine Gypsies MC -- Founders of the Grandaddy of all biker rallies, "The Black Hills Classic, in Sturgis, SD" that started off as 9 featured motorcycle races in 1938 and has grown to a rally attended by more than half a million motorcycle fans. -- But there are plenty of good people within all clubs.

Shootout Between Rival 1% Bikers in Waco, Texas

Eight Cossacks and 1 Bandido Nation 1% bikers died in the armed battle between rival clubs in the parking lot of Twin Peaks Restaurant in Waco, Texas. IMAGE: ROD AYDELOTTE/WACO TRIBUNE HERALD VIA AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hundreds of bikers were at the Twin Peaks sports bar and restaurant, near Interstate 35 in Waco, Texas when a fight broke out just after noon between rival 1% biker club members. Eight bikers died at the scene, another biker died at an area hospital, and at least 18 other people were injured. All nine men killed were members of the two main rival groups, the Cossacks and Bandidos Nation, police said.

The Bandido Nation 1% Club was formed in Texas in 1966 and has spread all over the world. 

The Cossacks 1% club formed in Texas -- in 1969, and last year was told by Bandido Nation NOT to claim TEXAS as part of their 3-piece color back patches. The younger generation of bikers, that often includes military veterans, decided to ignore the warning and keep TEXAS as a bottom "rocker" on the club's patch.

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club: AKA the Bandido Nation, is an organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was created in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. The motto still stands today as "We are the people our parents warned us about." It is estimated to have 2,400 members in 210 chapters, located in 22 countries. The FBI and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada have named the Bandidos as an "outlaw motorcycle gang." The chapters are divided around the world, with over 90 in the US, 90 in Europe, 17 in Australia, 1 in NZ and 1 in South-east Asia:

• North America: The club is concentrated in Texas but extends out into over 15 other states. In Canada, the Rock Machine Motorcycle club in Montreal merged with the Bandidos in 2000. There was another chapter in Ontario but the Shedden Massacre was a dramatic internal conflict that led to their deaths.
• Oceania: The chapters are widely spread across Australia and some have even taken part in bloodletting. The club attempted to spread to NZ by merging with former members of the Highway 61 members. 
• Europe: The European chapters have expanded across France, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and surrounding countries. As of March 15th 2014 a "Probationary Chapter" was also set up in Sittard, Netherlands. The club also hopes to expand to Russia and Eastern Europe.
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• The history and video of Biker Clubs in the USA.
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• Read all stories related to ongoing turf wars between rival 1% outlaw clubs. 

192 arrests - (Jerry Larson/AP Press) 

Waco police arrested 192 biker club members, and filed "organized crime" charges against 174 bikers, described by a county judge as "mostly from out of town." They were at Twin Peaks to recruit members. 

Justice of the Peace W.H. "Pete" Peterson set their bond at $1 million each. "I think it is important to send a message," the judge said. "We had nine people killed in our community. These people just came in and most of them were from out of town. Very few of them were from in town."

The fight began inside the restaurant and moved to the parking lot, where it escalated from fists to knives and chains, and then guns, police said. Diners, including small children, scrambled for shelter in the restaurant's freezer. Other people fled from the parking lot or took cover behind parked cars during the gun battle. 

Police were aware of growing tension at the bar, and at least some police were at the bar when the fight began. Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton told KWTX-TV said hundreds of bikers were involved in the parking lot fight. Some began shooting at each other, and when police arrived, they began shooting at police. It is unclear how many of the dead and wounded were shot by bikers and how many may have been shot by police.

On Sunday night, Waco police advised citizens to avoid the area until further notice:"Again!! Please avoid the Central Texas Market Place as the area is NOT safe. 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." 

At 10 pm, police issued an internal warning that was posted on a police website, advising officers of "credible information about threats to law enforcement." The internal bulletin said the Cossacks and Bandidos have "issued an order to kill anyone in uniform."

Police confiscated as many as 100 firearms, as well as numerous knives and other weapons. The Best Buy and other stores closest to the crime scene were closed for the day on Monday, as police continued their investigation. 

 "We were shocked by the shootings that took place in the parking lot of our franchised restaurant in Waco and are still in the process of reviewing all the circumstances surrounding it. We are thankful no employees, guests or police were injured in this senseless violence outside the restaurant, and our sympathies are with the families of those killed." - Twin Peaks posted Sunday night on Facebook. 

Monday morning, the franchise agreement of Twin Peaks-Waco was revoked.

Bandido's Nation Turf Wars - Reported by the Dallas Morning News crime blog.

For months, police say they tried to thwart danger by boosting security inside or having the restaurant deny service to the rival club members. But police say that local managers at the restaurant refused to cooperate. The managers disputed that claim after the shooting.

The biker clubs involved Sunday are well-known organized criminal enterprises, some with national affiliations, police said, that make money through drug dealings, extortion, robbery and violence.

Police had been aware for several months that rival club members were gathering to address recruitment and turf, areas where the groups have clashed.

At least 10 uniformed SWAT officers from Waco and the Texas Department of Public Safety were in marked cars outside the restaurant, but no plainclothes officers were inside because they felt they weren't welcome by restaurant managers, Swanton said.

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

The Bandidos were involved in a shooting less than two months ago at a local restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  >>>Read Story

"Bandidos are in town recruiting and collecting debts. Fact. Even in Rio Rancho," said a local Albuquerque rider on Facebook. - March 2015.

Ontario, Canada - Thursday, April 16, 2015, Ontario's highest court upheld the first-degree murder convictions of five members of the Bandido Nation in the 2006 "Shedden Massacre." 

Eight members of the Toronto Bandidos motorcycle club were shot execution style on April 8, 2006 at a farm property, the result of an internal gang dispute involving the Winnipeg and American branches. Their bodies were found stuffed in trunks of vehicles on the property near London, Ont.

The jury convicted six men of first-degree murder but only five appealed on various grounds, among them the trial judge's instructions to the jury.

Bandidos Nation in The News in Albuquerque and Ontario

"Bandidos are in town recruiting and collecting debts. Fact. Even in Rio Rancho," said a local Albuquerque rider on Facebook. - March 2015.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -A member of the Bandidos shot a member of the local Wheels of Soul motorcycle club in a shootout at the end of March at an Applebee's restaurnaunt on the northeast side of town. One restaurant employee said guns were pulled by several members of the rival clubs and at least 7 shots were fired, with one man falling to the floor.

Police did not release the name of the man they took to the hospital, and two weeks later, no arrests have been made. No one is talking. Even witnesses are unwilling to identify the shooter. "I'd give you his name but I don't want to die," one 911 caller said.

Police found three handguns and a lot of bullet casings at the restaurant.

Ontario, Canada - Thursday, April 16, 2015, Ontario's highest court upheld the first-degree murder convictions of five members of the Bandido Nation in the 2006 "Shedden Massacre." 

Eight members of the Toronto Bandidos motorcycle club were shot execution style on April 8, 2006 at a farm property, the result of an internal gang dispute involving the Winnipeg and American branches. Their bodies were found stuffed in trunks of vehicles on the property near London, Ont.

The jury convicted six men of first-degree murder but only five appealed on various grounds, among them the trial judge's instructions to the jury.

The killings took place at Wayne Kellestine's farm, and he argued that branding him a psychopath at trial and other character evidence was "massively prejudicial" to his case.The other men, Brett Gardiner, Frank Mather and Dwight Mushey, were portrayed at trial as power-hungry schemers or wannabes gunning for status in the outlaw club. The appeal was dismissed.

The men killed that night were George Jessome, 52, George Kriarakis, 28, John Muscedere, 48, Luis Raposo, 41, Frank Salerno, 43, Paul Sinopoli, 30, Jamie Flanz, 37 and Michael Trotta, 31.

Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Outlaw Bikers

In 2011 - there was violence between the Hell's Angels and the Mongols on main street during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, followed by a shootout during the Reno Street Vibrations rally. 

Insiders say the Vagos Motorcyle Club - also called 'The Green Nation' - is on a mission to replace the Hells Angels as the "Baddest" outlaw biker gang. 

August 7, 2013 - a member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club was found guilty of killing the president of the San Jose, California chapter of the Hells Angels in the 2011 casino shootout during the Street Vibrations rally in Reno. 

The shooter was the ex-president of the Nicaraguan chapter of Vagos Motorcycle Club, who had relocated to San Jose, California. Read More.

Outlaw club colors were banned and no violence was reported at the 2013 Reno Rally. 

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club: AKA the Bandido Nation, is a an organised crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was created in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. The motto still stands today as "We are the people our parents warned us about." It is estimated to have 2,400 members in 210 chapters, located in 22 countries. The FBI and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada have named the Bandidos as an "outlaw motorcycle gang." The chapters are divided around the world, with over 90 in the US, 90 in Europe, 17 in Australia, 1 in NZ and 1 in South-east Asia:

• North America: The club is concentrated in Texas but extends out into over 15 other states. In Canada, the Rock Machine Motorcycle club in Montreal merged with the Bandidos in 2000. There was another chapter in Ontario but the Shedden Massacre was a dramatic internal conflict that led to their deaths.
• Oceania: The chapters are widely spread across Australia and some have even taken part in bloodletting. The club attempted to spread to NZ by merging with former members of the Highway 61 members. 
• Europe: The European chapters have expanded across France, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and surrounding countries. As of March 15th 2014 a "Probationary Chapter" was also set up in Sittard, Netherlands. The club also hopes to expand to Russia and Eastern Europe. 

Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Outlaw Bikers

I just received a copy of The Ultimate Biker Anthology: An Introduction to Books About Motorcycle Clubs and Outlaw Bikers -- a guide to fiction and non-fiction stories about the 1%ers. - Available in paperback & Kindle.

Edited by Edward Winterhalder & Iain Parke, the book includes a couple of their biker stories, and a dozen more by Peter Edwards, Tony Thompson, Max Billington, Gene Lewis, Troy Mason, Vic Shurtz, Ralph "Teach" Elrod, David Charles Sprugeon, James Richard Larson, Marc Teatum and Wil De Clercq.  

Here's a little club history to get you started on the outlaw road from California and Texas, from New York and Chicago, across the midlands to the badland of Sturgis:

The Hells Angels club organized in 1948 in the San Bernardino, California, area. The biggest and best known outlaw with chapters in 29 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, Greece, Denmark, France, Turkey and the Dominican Republic.The Hells Angels insignia is the infamous "death's head," designed by Frank Sadilek, a former president of the San Francisco chapter. There has been violence in recent years between the Hells Angels, Mongols and Bandidos.

The Mongols club was founded in 1969 in Montebello, California, by Hispanic veterans of the Vietnam War. Reportedly denied membership in Hells Angels because of their race, the Mongols eventually branched out, currently boasting of chapters in 14 states and four foreign countries

The Bandidos club was founded by Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran Don Chambers in San Leon, Texas, in 1966. The club's official motto is "We are the people our parents warned us about," with a big Mexican in sombrero brandishing a machete and pistol adorning the club's distinctive patch. The Bandidos currently boast of 104 chapters in the United States, along with international chapters in Germany, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Costa Rica, Belgium and the Channel Islands. 

The Outlaws can trace their history back to 1935 Chicago, where the McCook Outlaw bikers used to meet at Matilda's Bar on old Route 66 in McCook, Illionois. They became known as the Chicago Outlaws and the American Outlaws Association (A.O.A.). The Outlaws opened a chapter in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1967. Ten years later, the Canadian biker gang Satan's Choice joined the Outlaws franchise. Today, the Outlaws are active in 14 states, with international chapters in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Thailand, Norway, Poland, and the Philippines.

The Pagans Motorcycle Club clashed with the Hells Angels in 2002 at the Hellraiser Ball in Long Island, New York, where 10 people were wounded and one Pagan was allegedly shot and killed by a Hells Angels member. Three years later, the Vice President of the Hells Angels Philadelphia chapter was killed by gunfire while driving his truck on the Schuylkill Expressway, with the Pagans allegedly carrying out the hit. 

Cossacks, Scimitars, Vagueros and other Clubs often declare their support to one of the more established clubs, and may draw a larger percentage of a younger generation -- often young military veterans. 


In 2011 there there was violence between feuding motorcycle gang members on main street during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, followed by a shootout during the Reno Street Vibrations rally. 

Insiders say the Vagos Motorcyle Club - also called 'The Green Nation' - is on a mission to replace the Hells Angels as the "Baddest" outlaw biker gang. 

On August 7, 2013 a member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club was found guilty of killing the president of the San Jose, California chapter of the Hells Angels in the 2011 casino shootout during the Street Vibrations rally in Reno. 

The shooter was the ex-president of the Nicaraguan chapter of Vagos Motorcycle Club, who had relocated to San Jose, California. Read More.

Outlaw club colors were banned from the Sept. 2013 Reno Rally and no violence was reported. 

Reno Street Vibrations Announces No Club Colors

STREET VIBRATIONS^® FALL RALLY
September 25 - 29, 2013
Reno, Sparks, Virginia City,
Carson City downtown, NV

NO CLUB COLORS Due to events which have occurred at recent motorcycle rallies, we feel obligated, in the interest of our attendees, to prohibit the display of colors affiliated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs as defined by the U. S. Department of Justice. Persons displaying these club colors at Street Vibrations® Reno and Sparks venues and participating sponsor properties will be asked to conceal them or exit the event. Your cooperation is appreciated. -- Message and details on event's website.

The 5-day "Music, Metal and Motorcycles" 18th Annual Street Vibrations Festival in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area draws more than 100,000 rally fans and features more than 300 vendors, 15 factory rigs, arm wrestling, slow races, a tattoo expo, parade, poker run and other motorcycle events. The Baddest Bagger Competition on Thursday, Sept. 28th presented by American Bagger -- and the filming of Kelly "Throttle Girl" Quinn's TV ThrottleGirl reality show.

Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson is a major sponsor of the event, where you will find  Ms. Street Vibrations 2013 Bikini Contest winners, two beer booths and Famous Dave's Barbeque serving great food plus adult beverages from the Red-Bull bar; Italian iced coffee, shaved ice, covered party area with seating, and a large stage. Vendors include Paul Yaffe, Kewl Metal, J & M Audio, Billet for Baggers, Mark Brodie Custom Pinstripe Artist, Brodie/Chester Original Designs, Sidelines Pinstriping, Scott Jacobs Art, WindVest, True Track, GlowRide, Patchworld, Ridin' Rock, Street Vibrations 2013 T-shirts and more! The 2013 Cathouse Poker Run will leave from Chester's on Saturday, Sept. 28th and The Rowdy Johnson Band from Tombstone, Arizona will be playing at Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson on Saturday afternoon.   

Schedule of Events Sept. 28th, Carson City Street Vibrations includes kids games at 8 am, followed by bike games from noon to 4 pm. There is also a poker run lunch at the Horse Shoe Club 

Nevada Rally Cancelled After Gang Violence Verdict

Possible violence between rival motorcycle clubs has prompted the cancellation of a charity motorcycle rally in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The organizers of "Rock the Canyon" say the FBI was worried about safety, due to recent run-ins between members of motorcycle clubs from outside the Las Vegas area.

The rally and festival was originally scheduled for July at the Las Vegas Ski Resort, but was postponed due to wildfire evacuations. The rally was set to help with wildfire cleanup efforts, and was also supposed to benefit a local foundation that help needy families.

The recent run-ins between outside motorcycle clubs had nothing to do with the organizers of the event, the charity it was supposed to benefit or any other local motorcycle clubs, according to a TV 8 - Las Vegas news update. The rally was cancelled due to concerns by local law enforcement that the charity event could become the stage for violence between outside clubs.

Jethro Pettigrew

Aug. 7, 2013 - A member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club was found guilty of killing one of the highest ranking members of the Hells Angels in a 2011 casino shootout during the   Street Vibrations rally in Reno. 

Ernesto Gonzalez was found guilty in the shooting death of Jeffrey "Jethro" Pettigrew, president of the Hells Angels' chapter in San Jose, California.  The shootout on a busy casino floor at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks on Sept. 23, 2011 involved several members of the rival motorcycle clubs.

Ernesto Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a member of the Vagos' chapter in San Jose and is also the ex-president of the Vagos' Nicaraguan chapter. He was found guilty on six counts, including murder to benefit a gang. He faces life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3rd.

Another member of the Hells Angels was gunned down in broad daylight at Pettigrew's funeral on Oct. 15, 2011. Steve Tausan, 52, a bail bondsman and sergeant-at-arms for the Hell's Angels was reportendly shot in front of dozens of law enforcement officers and thousands of mourners at Oak Hill Memorial Park. An area state of emergency was declared when he died a short while later. These shootings followed violence at the 2011 Sturgis Rally.


Read Story: Reno and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Violence 2011 

Hells Angels and Mongols Fight at Sturgis Rally 2011 (Video)

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has always been considered a neutral zone for members of motorcycle clubs -- But that was not the case at the 2011 Sturgis Rally. Video shot from the balcony of One Eyed Jack's, Wednesday night (Aug. 10th) of a fight in downtown Sturgis. The witness who shot this video said he was talking on his cell phone watching the Hells Angels Sturgis headquarters when all hell broke loose!

"I heard popping noises and looked down. Probably 20 Hells Angels and Mongols were going at it, fighting, etc. Within a minute, the Sturgis Police were at the scene, guns drawn and taking control. Notice the women in the clubhouse coming out with their hands over their heads. We had noticed the Mongols eating outside at the restaurant while walking in. Wonder if it was a turf deal since the restaurant is directly adjacent to the Hells Angels clubhouse?"

A member from both groups was stabbed during the downtown Sturgis gang fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels on Aug. 10 , which may also have been a contributing factor to smaller crowds at the 71st Sturgis Rally, Sheriff's Chief Deputy Tom  Wilts told the rapidcityjournal

Today, more than half a million people attend the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and with few exceptions, the rally has become a non-violent "neutral zone." There was a shooting in 2006 at Custer State Park and a shooting in 2008 at Sturgis' Loud American Roadhouse. There was also a fatal stabbing on a shuttle bus in 2006.

Back in the 1970's only a few thousand riders came to Sturgis. "During that time, we had mostly gangs and hard-core bikers," said Russ Hilton, who served as Sturgis police chief from 1974-1978. "There wasn't much of a family affair, like it is today." 

In 1976, a "near riot" broke out in city park. "They started the highway on fire with gasoline and then started running the bikes through it. We had a pretty tough time for awhile there," Hilton said in a "70 Years of the Rally" story for Legendary Sturgis News.

The 60th Sturgis Rally in 2000 drew the biggest crowd so far, an estimated 633,000. The 70th anniversary rally drew an estimated 466,769. Sturgis is "aging out" as a rally, according to a recent survey: 61% of the Sturgis crowd is age 41-65, which is why there is an emphasis at The Buffalo Chip and other campgrounds to attract a younger crowd.