Texas Gang Shooting: 9 Dead, More Injured in Biker Gangs Fight

A rivalry between motorcycle gangs in Texas escalated into a shootout that left 9 bikers dead and 18 others injured.

The Texas rival gangs supposedly met up at a restaurant's parking lot to settle their differences, but it turned deadly instead.

According to ABC News, a huge brawl erupted and escalated into a shootout that left eight people dead at the scene and one person dead at the hospital.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamar said all nine gang members who were killed were from the Bandidos or Cossacks.

Eighteen more people were taken to the hospital for stab and gunshot wounds, Sgt. Patrick Swanton from Waco Police said at a news conference.

Yahoo! News has learned that at least five different rival gangs met up at Twin Peaks restaurant to discuss recruitment and turf agreements.

An estimated 150 to 200 gang members were inside the restaurant when a scuffle happened in the bathroom. It quickly led to a fistfight, then to a brawl and finally to a shootout, prompting civilians to flee for their lives.

"This is probably one of the most gruesome crime scenes I've ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement," Swanton said. "I was amazed that we didn't have innocent civilians killed or injured."

The dispute in the bathroom reportedly involved knives and firearms. The fight took a turn for the worse when gang members ran to the parking lot and started shooting each other. 

All people who died were gang members as were the people involved in the incident, according to the police. Dozens were detained for questioning.

"As that fight progressed, it progressed very rapidly from hands and feet as weapons to chains," explained Swanton. "My understanding a club was involved and knives were involved."

Swanton said that the police were notified of the meeting and that there were more than 10 Waco policemen and state troopers that were present in the restaurant's vicinity at the time of the shootout. However, no officers were harmed. 

"We've been made aware in the past few months of rival biker gangs...being here and causing issues," said Swanton.

The management of the Twin Peaks restaurant was also aware of the meeting but they were said to be uncooperative when it came to addressing some security concerns.

"Apparently the management (of Twin Peaks) wanted them here and so we didn't have any say-so on whether they could be here or not," Swanton added.

Meanwhile, Jay Patel of the Waco Twin Peaks franchise issued a statement via Facebook on Sunday night, addressing the gun battle that took place earlier that day.

"We are horrified by the criminal, violent acts that occurred outside of our Waco restaurant today. We share in the community's trauma. Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our customers and employees, and we consider the police our partners in doing so," the statement read.

Patel added: "Our management team has had ongoing and positive communications with the police and we will continue to work with them as we all want to keep violent crime out of our businesses and community. We will continue to cooperate with the police as they investigate this terrible crime."