According to authorities on Sunday, a previous conflict in Albuquerque between two rival outlaw motorcycle clubs led to the fatal shooting of three of their members at a New Mexico biker rally over the weekend.
The Bandidos and the Waterdogs were involved in the violent incident on Saturday in the mountain resort town of Red River, where five others were injured, including two who are facing charges along with another biker, New Mexico State Police said.
Authorities on Sunday identified the three men who died in a shooting at a New Mexico biker rally over the weekend as members of rival outlaw motorcycle clubs who had a previous clash in Albuquerque. They were 26-year-old Anthony Silva of Los Lunas, 46-year-old Damian Breaux of Socorro and 46-year-old Randy Sanchez of Albuquerque. Two died at the scene and one at a hospital, according to New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson.
Johnson said 30-year-old Jacob Castillo of Rio Rancho will face a murder charge when he gets out of a hospital and 39-year-old Matthew Charles Jackson of Austin, Texas, is accused of illegally carrying a firearm inside a place that sells liquor.
State Police said 41-year-old Christopher Garcia, also from Texas, was arrested on suspicion of having cocaine after being treated at a hospital.
Three other men who belonged to motorycle clubs were hurt in the incident, but authorities haven’t released their names yet.
“It’s very tragic,” Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun said. ““It’s the first time we’ve ever had anything like this.”
The town’s website advertised the 41st annual Red River Memorial Motorcycle Rally, saying “Get ready for the rumble as 28,000 bikers from all different backgrounds line Main Street for one crazy party.”
On Sunday, most of Main Street was off-limits to the public as part of the State Police’s investigation and businesses in the area were asked to stay closed.
“The shooters have all been caught,” Calhoun said. “There is no threat to the community.”
The injured were taken to hospitals in Denver, Albuquerque and nearby Taos.
“Our law enforcement was incredible. The first State Police officer was there within 30 seconds,” Calhoun said.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina was in Red River on Saturday afternoon, having dinner and posting online photos of him and his happy wife.
One of his posted pictures showed motorcycles filling the town’s main street as bikers and others mingled.
Medina said the shooting happened 30 minutes after he posted the pictures.
“I felt so helpless without a badge, gun or radio as State Police officers and others came into the restaurant and everything slowly shut down and I didn’t even know if I could get to my car or if it was part of the scene,” Medina wrote on Twitter. “This surge of gun violence affects all of New Mexico big or small.”