Noted immediately is the absence of W. Patrick Swanton, replaced by Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman. According to Stroman there were snipers positioned prior to the chaos, they also carried rifles with full-auto capability, however they only fired 12 rounds.
Here’s the report by Olivia Messer a local reporter for the Waco Tribune:
WACO – Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman reported Friday that three Waco officers fired a total of 12 shots during the May 17 Twin Peaks shootout.
Stroman said 12 shell casings were fired from police rifles and found on the scene. No other law enforcement officers from other agencies fired their weapons, he said.
So far a total of 44 casings have been recovered, but Stroman said that total doesn’t include any casings that remain inside revolvers that were fired. All other shells found at the scene weren’t from law enforcement weapons, he said.
Stroman disputed rumors that Waco PD had snipers on the scene and said, “We did not fire indiscriminately into the crowd.”
A Waco Police Department press release reports that the three officers fired .223 caliber rifles that are capable of full-auto fire, but were only used in semi-auto mode during the Twin Peaks shootout. The release says there was no fully automatic fire from any officers on the scene, contrary to some statements made by bikers after they were released from jail.
All Waco police officers were inside their vehicles at the time the shooting started at Twin Peaks, the release says. The officers involved have been assigned administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
The release also states the number of weapons discovered at the crime scene has increased to 475 at this time “and may continue to increase.” The list includes 151 firearms, 12 of which were long guns. Other weapons include: knives, brass knuckles, batons, tomahawks, weighted weapons, a hatchet, stun guns, bats, clubs, a machete, a pipe, an ax, pepper spray and a chain. (read more)
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