Texas police seek gang truce, end of bloodshed after deadly brawl

A police officer walks past a SWAT truck in the parking lot of a Twin Peaks restaurant where nine members of a motorcycle gang were shot and killed in Waco, Texas, May 19, 2015. Police warned of revenge attacks from motorcycle gangs after 170 people were charged on Monday in connection with the shootout among rival bikers on Sunday that left nine dead and 18 wounded and turned a Texas restaurant into a blood-soaked crime scene. [Photo/Agencies]

WACO, Texas - Texas police asked rival motorcycle gangs on Tuesday to put aside their differences after a weekend brawl at a Waco restaurant that left nine people dead and 18 injured, calling for a halt to the carnage and threats of revenge attacks.

"There has been enough tragedy and there has been enough bloodshed in Waco, Texas. We would appreciate there not being any more," Police Sergeant Patrick Swanton told a news briefing.

He added that threats for reprisal against police from motorcycle gangs have "toned down" but are still a worry for law enforcement officials, who arrested 170 people following Sunday's brawl at the Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill in the central Texas city.

Of the 18 injured, seven remain in the hospital and all are in stable condition. Few of those involved in the deadly brawl are from the Waco area, Swanton said.

The nine killed ranged in age from 27 to 65 and a preliminary autopsy report indicates they all died from gunshot wounds, according to records made available by the McLennan County Justice of the Peace.

Those arrested were being held on bail of $1 million each in separate parts of a county jail to prevent an outbreak of violence, county officials said.

They face organized crime charges relating to capital murder. Charges directly relating to the violence will likely come after an investigation of the bullet-riddled crime scene where gang member attacked each other with guns, knives, clubs, brass knuckles and chains.

Three of those arrested were released from jail when their bond was mistakenly reduced to $50,000, a county judge said, adding fresh arrest warrants were then issued along with requests to raise the bond to $1 million each.

All three were later apprehended and returned to custody, police said.

Those in custody are likely to stay there because the bail amount is beyond the means of Waco bail bond agencies, a local agent said.

"We do not write $1 million bonds. In fact, there is not any agency in Waco that will. In order for these folks to get out of jail on a lower bond, an attorney will have to file a writ with the court," said Charlie Pickens of Pickens Bail Bonds.