Posted on 06/10/2015 4:16:45 PM PDT by Prolixus
A member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang described Wednesday how he was punched in the face and then shot May 17 while rushing to defend a Bandidos president, who became embroiled in an argument with the rival Cossacks moments after the Bandidos rode in from Dallas.
Two Bandidos asked 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson to reduce their $1 million bonds at back-to-back hearings Wednesday. Reginald Weathers, 43, of Forney, was successful, but his fellow Bandido, Marcus Pilkington, 36, of Mexia, who has at least four pending felony cases against him in Limestone and Ellis counties, was not. After hearing testimony from Weathers, who has no criminal record, and arguments from both bikers’ attorney, Adam Reposa, the judge agreed to reduce Weathers’ bond to $250,000.
Reposa said it is unlikely Weathers will be able to post bond, even with the reduction.
Before seeking the bond reductions, Reposa asked the judge to rule on his claim that the men deserve to be released because the boilerplate, identical arrest warrant affidavits used to arrest all 177 bikers fail to allege a legal cause of action.
Based on the vague affidavits, bikers merely eating lunch at Twin Peaks restaurant that day were arrested for wearing “patches” and for being associated with a biker club and not based on whether they fired a weapon, got into a fight or helped provoke the gun battle, Reposa argued.
Reposa said it was not right for everyone to be arrested for the actions of others.
Johnson ruled there was adequate probable cause to detain the bikers. Weathers testified that he and about 15 other Bandidos from the Dallas area had just pulled into the restaurant parking lot and saw Cossacks lining the patio area. He said he hadn’t even parked his motorcycle before Cossacks yelled at club president David Martinez that he couldn’t park in a particular spot.
He said he felt like the Cossacks were “disrespecting” Martinez and he rushed over and told them not to talk to his president that way. Suddenly, a Cossack punched him in the face, he said.
He said he put his head down to cover up and defend himself and heard gunshots seconds later. He was being pulled to the ground and was being hit in the face, he said. Later, he was shot in the arm. The bullet passed through his arm, entered his chest and exited the other side, he said.
Prosecutor Brandon Luce asked Weathers if he would jump into any fray to help his biker brothers. Weathers said he would.
“This is 2015. We know violence is not the first answer,” Weathers said. “We are not stupid. We know there are better ways to handle things.” Weathers said he did not see who fired the first shot because he was fighting with another biker. He remembers hearing the sound of a “double-tap,” or pulling the trigger twice.
After being shot, Weathers ran to take cover behind cars near Don Carlos restaurant, he said. Police arrived quickly and told everyone to get on the ground, he said, estimating the entire incident lasted four or five minutes.
Weathers told Luce he was legally carrying a .40-caliber pistol but did not use it that day. When Luce referred to the Bandidos as a gang, Weathers corrected him, saying he is in a motorcycle club called the Bandidos.
Luce reminded the court that law enforcement considers the Bandidos a criminal gang.
Reposa argued that people, including ex-military personnel, are attracted to biker groups like the Bandidos because they are disciplined and value structure and order.
“I think when you see the videos, you will see some very undisciplined actors,” Reposa said. “That was not this man. He was lawfully carrying a weapon and he did not discharge it.”
Pilkington’s leg was injured in the incident, but testimony Wednesday did not indicate how he was hurt.
Luce and prosecutor Mark Parker asked Pilkington about his pending assault/family violence, tampering with physical evidence and possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility cases in Limestone County, a pending stalking case in Ellis County, a protective order against him and his 1999 conviction for marijuana possession in Navarro County.
In related matters, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists announced in a press release that it had hired a former Texas Ranger to conduct an investigation into the shooting at Twin Peaks.
Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said his agency has “no problem at all with that,” but added that the former Ranger, who is not named in the press release, would not be afforded access to any law-enforcement evidence gathered in the case.
“We have no problem with anybody looking at this,” Swanton said. “We have nothing to hide. Obviously, we are going to maintain the integrity of our investigation, so we would not necessarily share information with an outsider.
We continue to share evidence with the FBI, ATF, TABC, Texas Rangers and DPS’ CID team. They are all working on this case with us.”
He said he put his head down to cover up and defend himself and heard gunshots seconds later. He was being pulled to the ground and was being hit in the face, he said. Later, he was shot in the arm. The bullet passed through his arm, entered his chest and exited the other side, he said.
All these men in jail are losing money, work, and whoknowswhat, including their bikes, while in jail.
This is justice denied.
That will be some investigation. Who but the law enforcement types got to gather evidence?
Jim, I bring this to your attention due to the many threads posted by bike gang sympathizers in which threats and personal attacks have been issued against many Freepers who challenge the voracity of the claims and arguments posted by these bike gang sympathizers.
Are these many and continuing similar threads which are in support of criminal bike gangs like Bandidos, on FR something FR wishes to continue? I hope, like the mass of pro Ron Paul threads, these too can be stopped so FR can be allowed not being lumped in as supporting these outlaw gangs by association.
LOL!
Finally, a little bit of information.
It’s interesting that some 40-odd bikers have been bailed but this is the first time I remember seeing anything about the testimony at the hearing.
You are a troll.
It sounds like he was shot by a high velocity, non-fragmenting bullet.
snicker...snicker..
You thinking 223?
“He said he put his head down to cover up and defend himself and heard gunshots seconds later. He was being pulled to the ground and was being hit in the face, he said. Later, he was shot in the arm. The bullet passed through his arm, entered his chest and exited the other side, he said.”
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And THAT does not sound like the forensic track of a handgun’s bullet.
>>> It sounds like he was shot by a high velocity, non-fragmenting bullet <<<
Yeah, like 5.56 mm. But something like a FMJ .380 or 9 mm might do it with a whole lot of luck.
What are you talking about?
Do you mean to tell me that men in jail and not arraigned for nearly 1 month, losing their income and property, is appropriate?
If you’re talking to me, then disagree.
Jim, if you want to ban me for this, please go ahead.
“Jim, I bring this to your attention due to the many threads posted by bike gang sympathizers in which threats and personal attacks have been issued against many Freepers who challenge the voracity of the claims and arguments posted by these bike gang sympathizers.
Are these many and continuing similar threads which are in support of criminal bike gangs like Bandidos, on FR something FR wishes to continue? I hope, like the mass of pro Ron Paul threads, these too can be stopped so FR can be allowed not being lumped in as supporting these outlaw gangs by association.”
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X-spurt, you respond to ‘combat_boots” mild (and FACTUAL) comment (Post 2 above) by going “crying to daddy” asking that FReepers who have had their “smell test” alarm needles go off the charts at the Waco government’s explanations of what happened in this shootout BY ASKING THAT THOSE WHO DOUBT THE STATISTS’ EXPLANATIONS BE SILENCED!
Who designated YOU to be the censor here? And a little news for you...the fact that many of us believe that the Constitution and its protections apply to ALL Americans (including bikers) does NOT make us “bike gang sympathizers”! You, of course, are free to espouse the silencing of folks who disagree with you just as the Waco (and Baltimore State’s Attorney) authorities are free to request that gag orders be issued so that information such as autopsy, forensic and ballistic evidence are NOT released to the public. But judges (and FR moderators) are free to decline such requests.
Just what are you, the Waco prosecutors and the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office afraid of? The Truth? I think you are since it is likely that the truth and the facts would set off even YOUR Smell Test Alarm Bells.
The smell is very bad in Waco...and I suspect it will get far worse as more information becomes known.
Many thanks for sticking up for me.
X-spurt, do not EVER post to me again. As far as I can remember, you never have previously.
Well said.
I think only a rifle round could do that also.
This affair reminds me of the 2002 K-Mart racing sting in Houston. The racers were a now-show; the police captain went ballistic and ordered everyone in sight arrested. They grabbed shoppers with merchandise, even diners in an adjacent restaurant.
Ahhh! So the Waco persecutors have requested a gag order on information such as autopsy, forensic and ballistic evidence?
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