Washington, May 17 (EFE, plus additional context by The Costa Rica Star).– At least nine people died and 18 others were injured in a shootout between rival biker gangs in Waco, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The shootout, which began as a fist- and knife-fight but quickly escalated to gunplay, took place in a parking lot between the Twin Peaks and Don Carlos restaurants shortly after noon, said local television station News Channel 25.

All the dead – eight of whom died at the scene, the ninth in a local hospital – were members of the rival motorcycle gangs.

The fight broke out in the Twin Peaks after an argument, with the brawlers spilling outside into the parking lot, police said.

Police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said that members of at least three rival gangs were in the parking lot when the shooting erupted, but he did not provide the names of the gangs or the victims.

Police were on the scene when the shooting started and officers fired on some of the bikers to put an end to the clash, said Swanton, adding that the officers’ actions “saved lives” and prevented the clash from becoming even bigger.

Many officers and emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene of the shootout, where law enforcement authorities found chains, knives, garrots, firearms and other weaponry scattered around the area.

Police said that the condition of some of the injured, who were taken to local hospitals with knife and gunshot wounds, is such that more deaths may occur in the coming hours or days.

Some of the customers inside the two restaurants managed to hide in the freezers to protect themselves from the gunfire, the TV station reported.

After the shootout, the two restaurants closed and police arrested a number of people and questioned the people present.

One eyewitness, Michelle Logan, 37, told local media that there were about 30 firearms in action in the parking lot and about 100 shots fired in all. EFE

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club

Additional radio and television news reports from Texas indicate that members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club were involved in the deadly shooting. As reported by The Costa Rica Star in late 2013, a chapter of this organization was established in our country more than ten years ago:

Outlaw motorcycle culture in Costa Rica started with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club from Texas opening a chapter here in 2004.

The roots of the Hells Angels and the Bandidos can be traced to military war veterans from the United States. Costa Rica does not even have an army, but self-respecting Tico Bandidos know about the late Don Chambers, a Vietnam war veteran who sought to bring the battlefield doctrine of the United States Marine Corps into the motorcycle riding lifestyle.

Notwithstanding the above, it is important to remember that:

Motorcycle clubs in Costa Rica are largely recreational. . The gorgeous landscape of the country and her challenging topography make a great combination for motorcycle trips in the company of friends. Tropical riding clubs in Costa Rica do not always adhere to U.S. convention: Not all members ride Harley Davidson; many can be seen riding Asian motorcycles. This could be considered heresy in other parts of the world, but then again this is a country where there are riding clubs named Bikers Zero Stress. The same goes with leather jackets and accessories: Vinyl is often used as a replacement.