Laughlin Casino Biker Fight
Two Hells Angels and one Mongols motorcycle gang member died and at least 12 people were injured after a brawl involving guns and knives inside Harrah’s Laughlin casino. In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, the Mongols are seeking unspecified damages for injuries suffered during the melee and for causing “anguish. LAS VEGAS — Videotape images show rival motorcycle gang members wielding guns, knives, wrenches, and chairs in a brawl that killed three and injured at least a dozen in a southern Nevada casino in 2002. The footage is among hundreds of hours of videotape jurors may view during the trial of 11 Hells Angels charged in the deadly casino brawl. — Thousands of bikers rumbled out of town Sunday as investigators sorted out the details of a casino brawl between rival motorcycle gangs that left three people dead. The fight broke out in April 2002 during the annual Laughlin rally, which draws about 25,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to a gambling and resort town about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. LAUGHLIN The peaceful image of this bustling gambling town as a sort of Disneyland for adults was shattered early Saturday morning when rival biker gangs, gathered at a casino bar.
LAS VEGAS — Videotape images show rival motorcycle gang members wielding guns, knives, wrenches, and chairs in a brawl that killed three and injured at least a dozen in a southern Nevada casino in 2002.
The footage is among hundreds of hours of videotape jurors may view during the trial of 11 Hells Angels charged in the deadly casino brawl.
Federal prosecutors were expected yesterday to tell jurors that the bikers plotted to attack the rival Mongols gang at the Harrah's Laughlin hotel-casino after years of friction erupted into violence at a crowded motorcycle rally.
They are the first of 42 men — from California, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, and Nevada, and ranging in age between 28 and 63 — to stand trial in the brawl. All face the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, racketeering-attempted murder.
Each has pleaded not guilty, and defense lawyers have said the men will argue that they were attacked first.
'The tapes are going to reveal clearly that the Hells Angels were threatened and were engaged in lawful self-defense,' a lawyer, David Chesnoff, who represents a defendant, Calvin Schaefer of Chandler, Ariz., said.
Mr. Chesnoff has argued previously that police knew trouble was brewing and that federal agents missed a chance to prevent violence at the 2002 Laughlin rally, an annual event that draws tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the Colorado River resort town about 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
Two Hells Angels were shot to death and a Mongols member died of stab wounds at the event.
Another Hells Angels member was later found shot to death near his wrecked Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Interstate 40 in California, about 100 miles from Laughlin.
Court officials say the trial could take three months or more, with 11 defense lawyers questioning witnesses.
Federal prosecutors declined comment Monday through a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas.One defendant in the case remains a fugitive.
| River Run riot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Belligerents | ||||
| Hells Angels | Mongols | |||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||
| Ruben 'Doc' Cavazos | ||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||
| 2 killed Many injured 7 imprisoned | 1 killed Many injured 6 imprisoned | |||
The River Run riot was a violent confrontation between the Hells Angels and the Mongols motorcycle clubs that occurred on April 27, 2002, in Laughlin, Nevada during the Laughlin River Run. The conflict began when members of the Hells Angels went to Harrah's Laughlin to confront members of the Mongols who had allegedly harassed vendors that sold Hells Angels related merchandise. Mongol Anthony Barrera, 43, was stabbed to death, and two Hells Angels, Jeramie Bell, 27, and Robert Tumelty, 50, were shot to death.[1]
Laughlin Casino Biker Fight Video
This was the first time that there were multiple murders in a Nevada casino.[2]
Six Hells Angels and six Mongols were imprisoned as a result of the event, and 36 other people had their charges dismissed.[3] Frederick Donahue, one of the Hells Angels indicted after the incident, evaded capture for six years before surrendering in July 2008.[3]
References[edit]
- ^Vogel, Ed. 'Laughlin riot: Court hears biker case'. Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- ^Oliver, Ryan (2002-04-28). 'Incident Nevada's first multiple slaying in casino'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ abPacker, Adrienne (2008-07-19). 'LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN MELEE: Fugitive biker surrenders'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2008-07-30.