The bar fight that left 9 bikers dead, 18 wounded and over 150 imprisoned with a $1 million bail set apparently erupted over typical biker gang turf issues.  And apparently, the Texas Department of Public Safety was aware of the brewing problems as it issued a bulletin on May 1st that alerted local authorities about increasing violence between the Bandidos and the Cossacks. All nine bikers who were killed on Sunday were members of those groups.

According to the DPS, the problems stemmed from the Cossacks refusing to pay Bandidos dues for operating in Texas and for wearing a Texas patch on their colors without the Bandidos’ approval.

“Traditionally, the Bandidos have been the dominant motorcycle club in Texas, and no other club is allowed to wear the Texas bar without their consent.”

The DPS bulletin also relayed information from the FBI concerning the Bandidos discussing “going to war with Cossacks.”  The bulletin also mentioned recent incidents that were escalating tensions between the two groups.  In March, 10 Cossacks forced a Bandido to pull over along Interstate 35 near Waco and attacked him with “chains, batons and metal pipes before stealing his motorcycle.”  That same day, a group of Bandidos confronted a Cossack member at a truck stop in Palo Pinto County. When the Cossack member refused to remove the Texas patch from his vest, the Bandidos hit him in the head with a hammer and stole it.

Red is glad to know that these two groups are killing each other over such important matters.  He feared it was something trivial.