Global Courant 2023-05-29 05:18:36
Three people were killed and five others injured when a shootout broke out between two outlaw biker gangs at New Mexico’s annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, police said.
As tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in the beach town of Taos County for the annual event and live music festival, members of the Bandidos and Water Dog motorcycle gangs got into a fight that saw multiple shots exchanged between the two groups. Mexican state police chief Tim Johnson said at a press conference on Sunday morning.
Johnson said all eight people shot in the episode, including the dead, were members of the two biker gangs.
“I will initially apologize to the law abiding citizens who came to Red River to have a good Memorial Day weekend, not the gangbangers who ruined it for them all, but there will be zero tolerance for everyone from now on Johnson said, adding that even people caught jaywalking will be arrested. “It’s not going to happen again this weekend because we’re not going to allow it.”
As many as 28,000 motorcyclists were expected in Red River this weekend for the 41st annual motorcycle rally.
Police respond to a shooting at the 41st annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally in Red River, New Mexico, on May 27, 2023.
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The shooting broke out around 5 p.m. Saturday on Main Street on the east side of Red River when a confrontation occurred between members of the two biker gangs, Johnson said.
He said the fight was apparently over a photo members of one of the gangs took with another outlaw biker gang in Albuquerque a few days ago.
“That spilled over to here, where they met again and a confrontation started. It started with words at first, then it turned into a fight, which then turned into shots being fired,” Johnson said.
During the gunfight, two members of the Bandidos Johnson were killed, identified as Anthony Silva, 26, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, and Damian Breaux, 46, of Socorro, New Mexico. Randy Sanchez, 46, of Albuquerque, a member of the Water Dogs, was also killed, Johnson said.
Johnson said Jacob Castillo, 30, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a member of the Water Dogs, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Castillo was injured in the incident and was in a hospital on Sunday.
Two other members of the Bandidos injured in the shooting, Matthew Jackson, 39, of Austin, Texas, and Christopher Garcia, 41, were also arrested on charges Johnson said were “somewhat unrelated to the shooting.” Jackson was taken into custody on charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm into a liquor store, and Garcia was arrested on charges of possession of cocaine, Johnson said.
A view of the 41st Annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, in Red River, New Mexico, on May 27, 2023.
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After being treated at a local hospital, Garcia and Jackson were booked into the Taos County Detention Center.
Three other biker gang members — ages 53, 31 and 43 — were injured in the shooting and remained hospitalized on Sunday, Johnson said. Their terms were not released.
One of the injured men was airlifted to a Denver hospital, according to the chief.
Johnson asked anyone who witnessed the gunfight if they have video of it to contact police detectives immediately.
At least 32 state police officers and several other law enforcement officers from various agencies were already on patrol in Red River when the shooting broke out, Johnson said.
He said New Mexico State Police received information Friday from the Texas Department of Public Safety that 400 to 500 members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang drove from Texas to Red River.
Four days ago, two members of the Bandidos biker gang were arrested on charges of a drive-by shooting in Lubbock, Texas that targeted a member of the Mongols biker gang, authorities said.
“In early April, I believe there were two shootings, one in Oklahoma City and another in Dallas involving Bandidos,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that as long as members of the motorcycle gangs remained in the city, he could not guarantee that everyone attending the motorcycle rally would be safe.
Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun said that based on a recommendation from the state police, the city is encouraging most businesses to remain closed for the rest of the holiday weekend.
“We realize we have a city full of people who still need to be fed and cared for. So those who would open will be extra careful to make sure they keep everyone safe,” Calhoun said.
Officials in nearby Taos issued an emergency bell at 10 p.m. Saturday. All alcohol sales were to be halted during the emergency proclamation, which was posted on city signs Facebook page.
The FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting state police with the investigation.
In 2015, the Bandidos were involved in a shootout with other biker gangs in Waco, Texas that left nine bikers dead and 170 arrested. The shooting broke out during a meeting between five rival Texas biker gangs that was originally scheduled for gang members to reconcile their differences, police said.
