Waco is and has been for many years, a very dangerous place.
A look at violent crime statistics shows Waco to be significantly higher than both the Texas and National statistics for the 14 years shown
The city violent crime rate for Waco in 2012 was higher than the
national violent crime rate average by 27.64% and the city property crime rate in Waco was higher than the
national property crime rate average by 60.38%.
In 2012 the city violent crime rate in Waco was higher than the
violent crime rate in Texas by 20.85% and the city property crime rate in Waco was higher than the
property crime rate in Texas by 36.41%.
That being said, the shootout at Twin Peaks has some interesting twists that will eventually come out.
1) the Waco PD, with permission of the shopping center management company, had emplaced their SWAT units around Twin Peaks HOURS before the bikers arrived
2) over 22 police (Waco PD and State Troopers) were sitting in marked and unmarked cars outside of Twin Peaks the entire time the bikers were inside the restaurant
3) the police did NOT "arrive on the scene within moments" they were, in fact, waiting outside when the fight started.
4) the police did NOT have a officer inside the restaurant
5) when the bikers came outside with guns, the cops opened fire
6) at least 3 bodies were left on the asphalt, in the parking lot, uncovered, for over 7 hours, and in plain site
Apparently, the biker clubs met to discuss territory disputes, it seems that the Cossacks recently began wearing a Texas bottom rocker on their colors, thereby challenging the Bandidos (a much larger biker club) with respect to territory in Texas (both those gangs originated in Texas). The other clubs present (Scimitars and two others) were apparently taking sides with one club or the other (the Scimitars were aligned with the Cossacks). I could not make out the other clubs involved.
Twin Peaks of Waco had it TABC license pulled, its TP franchise license pulled and corporate decided to permanently close the Waco location. Corporate is investigation the Harker Heights location, as it is owned by the same people as the Waco restaurant.
Thank goodness, there were no civilian casualties.
The after action report will be interesting to read.
Respectfully,
OldSarge