Parking dispute might have set off deadly Waco biker shootout

A deadly biker gang shootout in Waco, Texas that left nine dead and resulted in more than 170 arrests may have been sparked by a parking dispute, new reports suggest.

The Dallas Morning News reported Monday that investigators are pursuing a lead that some sort of parking dispute eventually led to the fatal shootout at Twin Peaks on Sunday.

Police told KWTX rival gangs started arguing shortly after noon Sunday at the Twin Peaks restaurant. Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton says the incident quickly turned violent, escalating from "fists and feet to chains, clubs and knives, then to gunfire."

"Those biker rival gangs were firing weapons at each individual. Our officers moved in. At that point, we treated as an active shooter scene," Swanton said. "Our officers moved in. Our officers did fire."

Since the shooting, the Waco Police Department has arrested 172 people on organized crime charges. The Twin Peaks restaurant where the incident took place has also been closed for a week by the local Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

In a statement on Facebook, an operating partner for the Twin Peaks Waco franchise claims the restaurant has had "ongoing and positive communications with the police," but Sgt. Swanton says that is not the case and that Twin Peaks management wanted the biker gangs at their restaurant.

"We have attempted to work with the management of Twin Peaks to get that cut back to no avail," he said.

In all, an additional 18 people were injured during the shootout.