Charges but no reasons for motorcycle gang shoot-out


Nearly a week after the news-shattering event, who fired the first shot or why is still not known when rival motorcycle gangs clashed in the suburban streets of an Arizona neighborhood.

It was last Saturday at approximately 12 pm when two motorcycle gangs exchanged at least fifty of gunfire on Yuma Drive in Chino Valley. After a panicked call to 911, law enforcement, including SWAT teams descended on the normally quiet street. Twenty-seven suspects were arrested with authorities telling reporters rival gangs were involved in the incident; the Hells Angels and the Vagos.

As of Wednesday only five names of suspects who had been charged were released;

John Anthony Bernard, 44 - total of 16 counts filed against him

Kiley Steven Hill, 39 - total of 15 counts filed against him

Robert Edward Kittredge, 36 - total of 8 counts filed against him

Bruce Andrew Schweigert Sr., 46 - total of 8 counts filed against him

Larry Dean Scott Jr., 47 - total of 16 counts filed against him

Which motorcycle gang the charged suspects belonged to, if any, was not released. According to Yavapai County Sheriff Deputy Scott Reed, each man is being held on $75,000 bond.

"Each of these suspects is being held on charges of Attempted Homicide, Aggravated Assault, Endangerment, and Participating in a Criminal Street Gang," reports Reed.

The names of four other people were blacked out on charge forms sent out by the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.

"We cannot officially release their names until they are served for those charges or appear in Early Disposition Court," an official told reporters, "Some have been bonded out or released on their own recognizance."

Aside from a few scant details, little else is known about the exchange of gunfire last weekend.

"We're not going to comment because it is an ongoing investigation and case," Penny Cramer, administrative assistant to the Yavapai County Attorney told reporters earlier this week.

Reportedly, the two homes involved in the incident are only blocks away from each other on Yuma Drive, with each being owned by a rival gang member. A member of the Hells Angels lived at 2640 Yuma Drive and a member of the Vagos gang lived at 2920 Yuma Drive. The home at 2920 is now up for a trustee sale on Nov. 2

Stolen motorcycles, ambushes and the crashing of family barbeque are the variety of reasons given for the violent clash between the two gangs with none of them confirmed or denied by law officials.

"We are still looking into all possibilities and underlying issues that led up to the shooting," Reed said. "It doesn't appear to be related to their drug business."

Fortunately, no deaths were reported from the Saturday shooting, but five people were wounded.

"It was previously reported that someone left the scene with a gunshot wound, but we believe that person who left the scene did show up at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, where he received treatment for a minor wound," Yavapai County Sheriff Deputy Scott Reed said. "We don't believe there's anyone else out there injured that left the scene."

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