Twin Peaks Restaurant Warned Not To Host Biker Gangs — Was Melee Sparked By Hurt Foot?

The Twin Peaks Restaurant, where a violent shootout between biker gangs injured scores, imprisoned 170, and killed nine, has had its license revoked for refusing to heed warnings about hosting the bikers’ events.

Local police in Waco, Texas, had, for two months, patrolled outside Twin Peaks, concerned the biker’s presence there for special events — including bike nights on Thursdays — would lead to violence, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton told CNN. Sunday’s event was a Texas Region 1 Confederation of Clubs and Independents meeting.

They had previously tried to work with the Twin Peaks franchise owner in an attempt to get him to stop hosting events for the gangs, but their pleas went unheard, even after they contacted the company, WFAA added. The franchise owner is an independent businessman, so they couldn’t do anything.

Authorities claim the restaurant knew about Sunday’s event and wouldn’t cooperate, yet again. So, police did what they could — they stationed 18 officers mere seconds away from the restaurant to respond if things got out of hand, which they did.

Now, Twin Peaks franchise owner Jay Patel has expressed his distress over the bloody shootout in his parking lot, saying in a prepared statement that the restaurant staff is “horrified by the criminal, violent acts that occurred outside of our Waco restaurant today. We share in the community’s trauma,” NBC reported.

Patel also suggested that they had cooperated with officials, which Swanton called a “fabrication.” He believes Sunday’s violence could’ve been prevented by management.

“Apparently (they) wanted them here, and so we didn’t have any say-so on whether they could be here or not.”

And now, the consequences: Biker events have been suspended from all company-owned Twin Peaks. The company has urged the 39 franchises follow suit. To the Waco location, the company said it “did not uphold the high security standards we have in place to ensure everyone is safe at our restaurants.” The revocation is immediate.

Meanwhile, police are begging Texas’ biker gangs to make peace while they comb through the messy crime scene to discern exactly how the violent brawl began. According to CNN, two gangs that may have been involved (none have been confirmed) — the Bandidos and Cossacks — have been ordered to arm themselves and head to north Texas.

“Obviously it’s something we’re concerned about. We would encourage biker groups to stand down. There’s been enough bloodshed. There’s been enough death here,” Swanton said.

And there are differing reports about how the melee began. One report states that one gang had rented an outdoor area at Twin Peaks, when another, uninvited gang showed up. What ensued was a turf war, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Police believe a fight in the bathroom sparked it. The first shots went off inside the restaurant, and the fight moved out to the patio and then the parking lot, where the bikers used an estimated 100 weapons against each other. Twin Peaks denies the fight began inside the restaurant, but in the parking lot.

And then there’s this, which lends a layer of triviality to the violent fight: Swanton revealed Tuesday that it may have begun over a hurt foot, the New York Post reported.

“I have additional information this morning that may go beyond a parking incident to somebody had their foot run over and started the disturbance in the parking lot.”

Unfortunately, witnesses “are not being honest with us,” he said, making the investigation difficult.

The dead have also been identified, as well: Jesus Delgado Rodriguez, 65; Jacob Lee Rhyne, 39; Richard Vincent Kirshner Jr., 47; Richard Matthew Jordan III, 31; Wayne Lee Campbell, 43; Daniel Raymond Boyett, 44; Matthew Mark Smith, 27; Manuel Issac Rodriguez, 40; and Charles Wayne Russell, 46.

[Photo Courtesy Erich Schlegel / Getty Images]