Oct 08 2008
Motorcyclist Shot on Freeway
A motorcyclist was shot on the freeway near Glendale last night. Information is sketchy right now, but the victim may have been a member of the Mongols M/C. Tensions between rival motorcycle clubs have been rising since the shooting of Hells Angel member “Papa” Guardado last month.
They’re investigating the possibility that someone fired shots at the man, causing him to crash his motorcycle.
Also at the scene was a shirtless motorcyclist with a large tattoo on his back that said “Mongols” — likely referring to the Mongols Motorcycle Club, a motorcycle gang founded in Montebello in the 1970s.
He was seen talking to officers, however, it was not immediately known what connection — if any — had had to the incident. (Source: KTLA)
There are rumors of war between the two clubs at this time. There has been bad blood between them for a long time. Now it looks like the clubs may be taking care of business.
“These boys have been feuding since at least 1977,” said John R. Schlim, a former Oakland cop who now consults on biker gangs for police departments across the country. “Just the fact that your victim is a Mongol you have to look at the Hells Angels. They certainly can carry a grudge.”
No doubt, Hells Angels have not forgotten how the upstart Mongols essentially seized control of Southern California from the Hells Angels in the 1980s.
Or, in recent years, the very public explosion of violence between the two clubs at a Laughlin, Nev., casino in 2002. More than 70 bikers joined the frenzy, guns blazing and knives slashing, leaving two Hells Angels dead. An hour later, a third Hells Angel was found shot dead on a nearby highway. (Source: Mercury News)
Meanwhile the motorcyclist who was shot has been identified. He was Manuel Martin, 30, of Venice.
Police did not know if Martin belonged to the Mongols, Lorenz said. The Montebello-based gang has several chapters in California and has recently been feuding with the Hells Angel’s motorcycle gang, authorities said.
“We won’t be able to make any determination as to whether he was a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang,” he said. “We don’t know if he was targeted. We don’t know if this was a road-rage incident.” (Source: Pasadena Star-News)
[...] struggle between rival motorcycle clubs. Over the past couple months violence has broken out in Glendale and San [...]