Three people died and five others were hospitalized after a shooting involving two outlaw motorcycle gangs at a New Mexico rally, state police said in an update Sunday.
The gunfire at the Red River Memorial Motorcycle Rally erupted Saturday around 5 p.m. local time during a confrontation between the Bandidos and the Water Dogs, New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson said at a news conference Sunday morning.
All eight victims were gang members, according to authorities. Police identified the men killed as Anthony Silva, 26, and Damien Breaux, 46, of the Bandidos, and Randy Sanchez, 46, of the Water Dogs.
“Thankfully, as far as we know so far, no innocent folks were hurt,” Johnson said. “Just gang-banger on gang-banger.”
Officials arrested Waterdogs member Jacob Castillo and charged him with murder. Christopher Garcia of the Bandidos was charged with cocaine possession, while fellow Bandidos member Matthew Jackson was charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm in a liquor establishment.
Garcia and Jackson are both from Texas and were wounded in the shooting in Red River, which is located in northern New Mexico, about 170 miles northeast of Albuquerque.
“On Friday, we had gotten some information from [the Texas Department of Safety], who had been following approximately [400] or 500 Bandidos from Texas … knowing that they were headed here,” Johnson said Sunday. “We added additional personnel Friday night. … Post-shooting, we’ve obviously added a lot more. … Those officers will remain here until the end of the event.”
This weekend marked the 41st edition of the Red River Memorial Motorcycle Rally, which organizers expected to draw 28,000 attendees.
Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun on Sunday encouraged local businesses to close temporarily in the aftermath of the shooting.
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