Three men who were killed in a shooting over the weekend at Red River in New Mexico during a motorcycle rally have been identified as members of rival outlaw biker gangs, according to authorities.
The shooting started from a previous altercation between them in Albuquerque.
The New Mexico State Police said that three other bikers are facing charges and two of them were among the five injured in the shooting which involved the Bandidos and the Waterdogs in the mountain resort town of Red River.
The three biker members killed are; 26-year-old Anthony Silva of Los Lunas, 46-year-old Damian Breaux of Socorro, and 46-year-old Randy Sanchez of Albuquerque. According to New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson, two were declared dead at the scene and the third died at a hospital.
The Police Chief also said that Jacob Castillo of Rio Rancho, 30, will be charged with an open count of murder when he has recovered and released from the hospital while 39-year-old Matthew Charles Jackson of Austin, Texas, is facing a charge of unlawful carrying of a firearm inside a liquor establishment.
Another person, 41-year-old Christopher Garcia, from Texas, was also arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession after being treated at a hospital.
The names of the other gang members injured in the shooting were not released.
The town’s calendar announced 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.”
The police requested businesses in the area not to open to aid their investigation
“It’s very tragic,” Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun said. “It’s the first time we’ve ever had anything like this.”
“The shooters have all been apprehended. There is no threat to the community.”
“Our law enforcement was incredible. The first State Police officer was there within 30 seconds,” Calhoun said.
Police Chief Johnson said that there would be increased police presence around the vicinity of the rally following the shooting.
“There will be zero tolerance from this point forward,” he said. “That is traffic violations for one mile an hour over, seatbelt, jaywalking – we’re going to stop and talk to everyone if they violate any law, traffic or criminal.”
“Anybody who can be arrested will be arrested. This is not going to happen again this weekend. Because we’re not going to allow it,” Johnson said.
“These gangbangers were lawless and what they are, are gangbangers who chose to have a three-day sleepover in New Mexico and not follow any of our laws,” he said. “That’s not going to be tolerated for the rest of this weekend, or any Memorial Days moving forward.”