Posted on 10/29/2015 2:32:50 PM PDT by don-o
Despite months of failed media attempts to obtain video footage and crime scene photos of the May 17 Twin Peaks shootout that killed 9 men and injured another 20 people, CNN released video evidence Thursday.
The footage is consistent with early police descriptions of weapons hidden between sacks of flour and bags of tortilla chips. They were allegedly in vehicles, tucked in benches, strewn across the floor, in kitchen stoves, thrown into trashcans and stuffed in toilets.
Among the weapons and blood spatters were half-eaten burgers, beer bottles covered in gang-symbol koozies and half-drunk margaritas.
CNN’s video footage shows men clad in Cossacks and Bandidos colors hiding under tables, running, covered in blood, holding and firing guns during the melee.
“It does appear to be crime scene photos and video from Twin Peaks, but we did not release it,†said Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton.
“Why they put ‘Waco Police Department’ on there, we don’t know,†he added, referring to a strip of writing along the top right corner of the footage that appears to attribute the video to the department.
Swanton noted, “I can speculate that it was released by an attorney who got it through discovery.â€
The Tribune-Herald in the days following the shootout requested surveillance video and photos from the scene, but the city refused to provide more than 19 pages of incomplete incident reports from the day of the shooting.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office ruled for the city on Aug. 7, saying it could withhold the photos, video surveillance and 911 audio recordings, among other evidence, from the Tribune-Herald.
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna and First Assistant District Attorney Michael Jarrett did not return phone messages left Thursday.
On June 30, Judge Matt Johnson of Waco’s 54th State District Court placed video from the restaurant surveillance cameras under a protective order because he said he was concerned about tainting potential jury pools.
Johnson ruled that day that Dallas attorney Clint Broden could have a copy of a Twin Peaks franchisee’s video of the May 17 biker shootout but barred the public release of the video.
On May 20, the Associated Press viewed Twin Peaks surveillance video for a story but did not release any of the footage.
That video shows dozens of motorcycle riders running inside to seek cover and trying to guide others to safety as the gunfire erupts, according to the AP.
Broden, who represents Scimitar Matthew Clendennen, and Austin defense attorney Adam Reposa, who represents several Bandidos, said that neither of them released the footage or photos to the media agency.
Reposa said Thursday, “This video confirms that the Bandidos had no idea about the gunfight which was about to take place but rather were ambushed by certain members of the Cossacks and numerous groups within law enforcement.â€
Messages to a CNN representative were not returned by early Thursday af
Some raw video is currently on YouTube. Search; it may not last long (some links dead already).
Are you seeing something besides the tightly edited CNN report?
To me “raw video” means simply what the camera saw for as long as it was running.
Go play in the street, child.
Who would those be?
Pardon me if I don’t give a shit.
Yes, it has a police label on it. No audio. Not much longer than the CNN clip though.
“holding and firing guns during the melee”
I saw one person with a gun and maybe one shot fired. Everyone else was looking for cover.
Fox News also reported it linking to the Waco Tribune. I didn’t see any sense in starting a new thread for the same video.
Why are you posting your picture? Where did you buy your glasses?
I thought it was a picture of TG
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