Last person jailed in Waco biker shooting to be released

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – The last person jailed in connection with a deadly shootout among bikers and police outside a Waco restaurant was poised to be released from jail Friday, more than five months after authorities rounded up 177 people from the crime scene and initially held them on $1 million bonds on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.

A Waco jail was processing the release of Marcus Pilkington, 38, Friday on a $50,000 bond – a sharp contrast from the first biker to be released, Jeff Battey, 51, who posted the full $1 million three days after the shooting. Both men were injured in the melee.

Nine people died and 20 were injured during the shooting, which authorities say arose from an apparent confrontation between the Bandidos and the Cossacks motorcycle clubs.

More than 430 weapons were recovered from the crime scene, including 151 firearms.

The gunfire erupted shortly before a meeting of a coalition of motorcycle clubs that advocates for rider safety.

Investigators have offered scant details about what sparked the fight or how the gunfire played out, and no one has been charged with any of the deaths.

In a 430-page Texas Department of Public Safety report reviewed by The Associated Press, Pilkington told investigators interviewing the injured that he did not fire a gun.

Battey, who was shot in the arm, said “I may have fired a gun, I don’t know.”

Also Friday, Battey’s attorney, Seth Sutton, filed a motion to have the ex-Marine’s ankle monitor removed and the condition that he not speak with any bikers lifted.

According to the motion, Battey’s attacker first fired his gun at Ray Allen, who was among those killed, before pointing his gun and firing at Battey’s chest. Battey raised his arm to deflect the bullet.