Waco Chief of Police Brent Stroman held a news conference Friday where he shared new information about the investigation into a mass shooting at Twin Peaks that killed nine and left 18 injured May 17.
Stroman didn't issue a statement, instead referring reporters to read a press release handed to them moments before and then fielded a few questions.
Among the highlights, Stroman said three Waco officers fired 12 rounds in the exchange of gunfire. Stroman said 44 shell casings were recovered at the scene, though that didn't include some found still in revolvers.
Stroman did not reveal how many people, if any, were killed or injured by officers and he didn't say anything about how the altercation started.
Stroman said allegations and rumors that Waco police were indiscriminately firing into the crowd were not true. Stroman added that video of the shooting would help tell the story of what happened that afternoon and that it would be released in the future. The video is currently in the possession of the FBI for analysis.
Firearms found at the scene have been transferred to the ATF for analysis. Ballistics and autopsy information is being evaluated by an outside lab and final findings are not yet available.
Following the shooting, 177 people were arrested and held at the McLennan County Jail on $1 million bond. Stroman said it was his decision to arrest those people because there was probable cause they committed a crime. More than 100 of the bikers arrested have been able to obtain bond reduction hearings and have been released, according to the Waco Tribune.
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Stroman said 239 people were originally detained at the scene and 62 were released that day without any charges being filed.
Stroman said more than 130 motorcycles and 91 vehicles were impounded after the shooting and that 52 motorcycles and 47 vehicles have been released to owners. Twelve of the motorcycles and three other vehicles were released to the lien holders due to repossession.
In all, more than 1,000 pieces of evidence were recovered from the crime scene, Stroman said.
Waco police said the investigation is very complex and that they are receiving assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, including their Criminal Investigation Division, the Texas Rangers, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, the McLennan County District Attorney's Office, the FBI and ATF.
Stroman said they plan to issue weekly updates to the media from this point forward through the investigation.
