3 Die in Casino Fight Between Biker Gangs

LAUGHLIN, Nev. —  An escalating turf battle between rival motorcycle gangs erupted into a shootout at a casino Saturday morning, killing three people, sending panic-stricken gamblers diving for cover and shutting down the Mojave Desert town for several hours.

The melee of gunfire, stabbings and fistfights broke out about 2:15 a.m. at Harrah’s Casino & Hotel as the town was packed with as many as 80,000 visitors attending the 20th annual bikers’ party called the Laughlin River Run.

At least 16 people were injured in the casino, police said, and the body of a biker gang member was later found on Interstate 40 in San Bernardino County, where he had ridden on his motorcycle.

At least one man was arrested and 70 to 100 others were detained for questioning after the shootout, which prompted the temporary closure of highways and a bridge leading out of town.

“We saw a bunch of people fighting, then all of a sudden we heard gunshots--bang, bang, bang,” said Aniko Kegyulics, 25, who was near the casino bar when the chaos began. “Everybody fell to the floor.”

Police said the casino clash culminated a nearly 18-month feud between the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs, which had been fighting over territory and membership.

Scores of police were brought in from California and Arizona to patrol the town, and remained in force overnight because of fears of more trouble. “There are threats of retaliation,” said Larry Tunforss, a spokesman for the Bullhead City Fire Department in Arizona.

By late Saturday, all routes into Laughlin were reopened and the riverfront gambling town was virtually back in business without further violence, police said. Motorcycles roared through town as visitors and residents ate, gambled and strolled through the streets.

The casino confrontation began when a group of about 30 Hells Angels members rode from the Flamingo Hotel to Harrah’s, looking for members of the Mongols gang, said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sgt. Chris Darcy.

A few members of the gangs faced off, quickly drawing a crowd as the confrontation escalated into a larger fight that involved 60 to 70 people. “The knives came out and then the guns came out and people started shooting,” Darcy said.

Within minutes, 16 people had been wounded, Darcy said. None of the injured are believed to be tourists or hotel employees. Hotel surveillance cameras videotaped the fight. Las Vegas Police Lt. Vincent Cannito said the video showed “a lot of shooting, a lot of stabbing.”

“It’s an unbelievable video,” Darcy said. “It’s horrific.”

Javier Corzo, 37, said he was playing slot machines when the fight began.

“All of a sudden, a wave of people came running through the bar area,” he said. “I heard gunfire--a whole bunch of shots. Everybody just hit the floor.”

Corzo said he saw several people pull out guns and two people get hit by the gunfire.

His friend, Rick Edwards, said hotel guests scattered when the fight began, running up stairs and hopping onto elevators.

“I’m sure the cops had a hard time finding whoever was involved,” he said, adding that he couldn’t get to his room and spent most of the night in a hotel stairwell.

Bystanders Separated From Participants

Police and fire personnel stormed into the hotel lobby shortly after the shooting, ordered people to the ground and separated bystanders from participants. Two police officers fired their weapons, Darcy said. One officer’s gun accidentally discharged, while the other officer shot at someone. Police were still investigating whether anyone was hit by police.

John Barrett, a battalion commander for the Bullhead City Fire Department, said at least 100 people were handcuffed or lying spread eagle on the floor.

Barrett said that when he arrived, there were several weapons scattered on the ground. Police recovered several knives and guns from the scene.

The three dead in Laughlin are believed to be bikers, police said. Their names were not released. Hospitals treated 13 people, some with gunshot and stab wounds.

Most were in stable or fair condition, but at least one man had a skull fracture and was in critical condition, hospital officials said. Two men who were shot are believed to be suspects, Tunforss said.

Less than an hour after the casino bloodshed, the body of 28-year-old Christian Tate of San Diego was found on the shoulder of the interstate near the small, desert town of Ludlow, said a San Bernardino County coroner’s official and Chip Patterson, a spokesman for that county’s Sheriff’s Department. The victim’s bike, along with shell casings, were also found.

Patterson said police believe Tate was shot as he rode his motorcycle, and that the death is “likely connected in some way to the shooting in Laughlin.”

The Mongols originated in the 1970s in Southern California and counts among its former members Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura. In May 2000, 41 members of the Mongols in Southern California were arrested on an array of charges, including murder, after a 2 1/2-year federal investigation. Authorities seized 101 firearms, four pounds of cocaine and six pounds of methamphetamine.

The Hells Angels was formed in 1948 in Fontana and cultivated its reputation as outlaws during the 1960s, when members clashed with police in Porterville, Calif., and battled with anti-Vietnam protesters in Berkeley.

In the 1980s, the Hells Angels attempted to change its image by holding charity events and recruiting young professionals. A longtime spokesman, George Christie Jr., was sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty in March to conspiring to sell drugs.

San Benito County Sheriff Curtis J. Hill said the two gangs have been positioning for who is going to control certain areas of the West. Mongols have been recruiting from Los Angeles street gangs and are infringing on traditional Hells Angels territory, Hill said.

“There has been tremendous friction between these two groups--not only in California but nationwide,” he said. “The violence overflowed into Laughlin and the River Run event.”

Steve Cushing, undersheriff of Santa Clara County, said he is urging the county to reject a request for a Hells Angels rally scheduled this summer.

“This is far too volatile a situation,” he said.

Elsewhere, the escalation has forced law enforcement agencies to ramp up surveillance and consider canceling other biker events. Over the Fourth of July weekend, about 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to converge in Hollister, Calif.

San Jose police spokesman Joseph Deras said that any time you bring these bikers together there is a potential for violence. “When I heard the news in Laughlin, I wasn’t the least surprised,” he said. “It’s been coming.”

After the shootout, Harrah’s shut down the hotel and casino. The hotel reopened mid-morning and part of the casino reopened later in the day. But detectives were still sorting through evidence in a taped-off portion of the casino late Saturday.

Throughout the day, police towed dozens of bikes from Harrah’s parking lot. By early evening, Harrah’s was again bustling with gamblers. People were pulling slots just 15 yards from where detectives marked bullet casings and worked behind crime tape.

Counseling Offered to Guests, Employees

The hotel, a Mexican-themed resort with 1,601 rooms, offered counseling to employees and guests, and set up a hotline for updates.

“We are deeply disturbed that this tragic event has occurred at Harrah’s Laughlin,” said Bill Keena, senior vice president and general manager. “As always, our primary concern is for the safety and welfare of our customers and employees.”

After the melee, a bridge between Bullhead City and Laughlin was shut down, as were other access points into Laughlin, as reports brewed that more gang members were itching to get into the city to continue the fight.

Laughlin, located 90 miles south of Las Vegas along the Colorado River where California, Nevada and Arizona meet, is a booming gaming town. Many of its 8,000 residents work as bartenders, cashiers and dealers in the town’s 11 casinos.

Laughlin has become a destination for Californians looking for a weekend getaway. Its popularity has helped Laughlin pass the Reno-Tahoe area as the second-largest generator of revenue in Nevada, according to 1998 statistics.

Each year, bikers roar into town for the Laughlin River Run, boosting revenues of hotels, shops and restaurants.

The four-day event, which began with just 500 riders, has become so mainstream that the Laughlin Area Chamber of Commerce promotes it on its Web site. This year, among the scheduled events were concerts with the Doobie Brothers and Grand Funk Railroad, and a custom bike show offering $4,000 worth of prizes.

“Some problems are unavoidable when 50,000 people congregate,” said Joelle Hurns, the chamber’s executive director. “You’re always going to have an element that is undesirable.”

Ralph Cuomo, 66, believes the violence will not dampen local enthusiasm for the River Run.

“They are not going to cancel. The locals all work in the casinos. What are they going to say?” Cuomo said. “We need the people.”

Grace Leslie, 36, of Orange County said she and her boyfriend weren’t going to cut their trip short because of the shooting. “We’re going riding,” she said. “We’ve been cooped up here too long.”

Sonny Ald, who works at D’Angelo’s Italian Restaurant in the River Palms casino, said the shooting has not deterred visitors who packed the streets of Laughlin on Saturday afternoon, causing a traffic jam.

“People are still coming in from California and Colorado,” he said.

“They can’t close down Laughlin,” Ald said. “The casinos are still open.”

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Times staff writers Jean Guccione, Zanto Peabody, Hector Becerra, Michael Krikorian and correspondent Dave Hawkins contributed to this report.