On Friday evening just before midnight a gunfight erupted at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in the city of Sparks, Nevada between armed members of the Hells Angels and Vagos motorcycle clubs. One member of the Hells Angels was killed and two members of the Vagos were injured. This Saturday morning there was also a drive by shooting. A large number of bikers are present in the city of Sparks and Reno for the the fall Street Vibrations motorcycle event. Due to these shootings the Governor declared a state of emergency on behalf of the city of Sparks and the Street Vibrations motorcycle event dubbed a “celebration of music, metal and motorcycles” is cancelled for the remainder of the weekend.
Added 09/25/2011 at 7.00 am EST. The person killed in the gunfight Friday night is Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, the 51-year-old head of the Hells Angels San Jose chapter. The 2 injured Vagos are at the hospital in stable condition. The Saturday morning drive-by shooting seems is seen by police as a case of retaliation.
The governor best think about giving the vendors their money back for coming to the rally!
Fredp…
Sure thing….stand in line. If you and any vendors lost money, why don’t you nut up an get it from the HA or Vagos. Damn it man, you sound just like another Obama supporter.
Boss Hawg
Hey Fred if the governor hadn’t done this some of those vendors would’ve ended up as casualties too.
Why don’t you just blame Bush like you usually do and move on.
Anyway if you’re one of those vendors losing your job would mean you could have more time for new hobbies — who needs a job when you have unlimited unemployment benefits? Jobs are for suckers in Obama’s economy.
Having to take a police action to protect the public from a55holes doesn’t mean you get your capital back.
Why is it “Obama’s Economy” when unemployment compensation has been around forever? Why are the two of you talking presidential issues on this anyway?
Nutless is anyone who thinks a gun solves anything.
Too bad about the rally being ruined by such senseless copper and lead exercises. Personally I prefer copper on my bike and lead on my fishing line. Much more fun that way and I shoot a CZ 75 with 100%
accuracy in US Marshal video training sessions.
IF you want lawless guns are king living move to countries where that’s what you get, really.
There are plenty of other places for you guys to puff up your little chests and call each other Nazis and Tree Huggers. Find one. Use it. Just stfu about it here.
It’s like dealing with 10 year old kids.
Signed,
Possibly the last living American with enough sense to think for himself and NOT follow “party lines.”
You’re not the last but it does appear there are fewer of us every day……
Too bad about the rally. At some point I really hope law enforcement gets the upper hand but with all the hoops they have to jump through I fear it will take a long time.
I hope it doesn’t spoil the Las Vegas Bike Fest next weekend.
I wish these guys would pick better times and locations to go after each other.
A lot of people put a lot of time, energy, and money into making these events happen for the good of the biking community. Hate to see it spoiled over an old grudge.
Sigh.
Just a reminder that these groups are bombs waiting to go off… Just because they make a bunch of lame bike shows (OCC), reality shows (gang land) and a completely off base drama (SOA) doesnt mean these groups go away or become less dangerous.
I live amongst the largest population of Pagans around and I show them all due respect when we cross paths. I don’t want my bike to become their bike. I respect their way of living even if I don’t choose to live that way.
However, when I run across a gathering of Pagans and then another group shows up…. Its time to go home! I got trapped between a very large group of Pagans and Gypsies at a funeral being held by my house.
My bike is extremely loud and both groups took acceptation to it. I want at the funeral, just trying to get home. Luckily there were a dozen or so cops policing the event so I made it through okay. Never know when shit will go down.
What zyon says makes sense. Observe them from afar and if you see more than one group in an area, go somewhere else. It’s like being around alligators or rattlesnakes, leave them alone and don’t agitate them.
Boss Hawg and ponfred, FU YOU.
1%’ers ruining another huge and popular event for the other 99% of us. Crying shame.
As a vendor who gets gouged/raped, I agree…the vendors should be compensated somehow. The stupidity of a few causes yet another fun rally to go down the shitter.
Being that most of the 1%ers are keeping it between themselves, it would be the choice of the folks that wanted to stay, whether or not to bail out at will…you don’t have to watch the train wreck.
I agree for the safety that something should have been done, but at the same time, vendors are losing thousands of dollars just to be there, with no chance of recovering it.
LEO’s should have been on point knowing that something could go down, but obviously…you never can tell.
How the hell do you get an “Obama supporter” comment out of that BossHawg?
The Sparks event is/was small potatoes compared to the goings on in Reno to the west. The Reno event was not canceled.
When the Law gets involved everybody gets the short end eventually. Legalize Drugs and Watch the Country’s Crimes get cut in HALF! And a lot less People will Die and be prosecuted and end up in Jail.
To Boss Hawg and PON fred: ??????????? I voted for McCain. Thank you Supreme Team. I did not get the Obama connection either.
I attended Street Vibrations along with 25/30k other motorcycle riders, Everybody was behaving excellent, I think it is time to brand these criminals for what they are, criminals. The issue in Laughlin was a shame that the Las Vegas Prosecutors took way too long and eventually dropped the charges and let the point of what every other citzen can expect when they are charged with a crime, to be prosecuted and sentenced to jail.
The HA were selling ‘ Legal Defense Fund ” merchandise in Sparks, R.I.C.O needs to be resurrected to confront this criminal activity, no matter which club is deserving.
I also thought it strange that none of the casinos had a ” NO Colors” policy either this weekend.
Prosecutors need to do their job!
Overall Street Vibrations was a huge success IMHO.
Obvously not all of the fact are known to the general public. We must be patent and wait for the police to complete there investigation. Hopefully the final report will state conclusively that John White was not involved in any way.
I like LOUD pipes!
A lot of us like to play with Fire. Some are surprised and even outraged when they get Burned.
The only politics in all this is that two groups are using violence to maintain power. They shoot to kill in public places with complete disregard to innocents around them and could care less about whether vendors lose their livelihood.
Guy’s weve had 3 major horrific events in this area in as many weeks (Carson City with the IHOP shooter, the Reno Air Races crash that killed 11, and now this) I think i speak for a good many of Northern Nevadans by saying Im sick and tired of being in the Damn news for crap like this. I love Northern Nevada and this …. is just horrible.
Cadesporty I would stay home if I was riding what Bike you were bringing to the Party. My money is on the Kiwi Dood. He seems to know about theHeartbeat of Cycles and Events in this part of the World for sure. This other dood needs to change his handle to “Chicken Little” THY SKY IS FALLING, OH MY,DON’T COME TO NEVADA!
i never said dont come to Nevada… I just said im tired of us being in the news. I welcome Street Vibrations with open arms as well I welcome Hot August nights. This year I’m glad that none of my fellow riders got killed in traffic accidents with cagers who never pay attention. Oh Im sorry I dont ride a “man’s bike” like some over priced over fluffed bagger guess I can’t come out and play with the “big boys” …. grow up izadore007
I just got back from street vibrations and all in all had a great time. I was at Sparks the day after the shooting and all the vendors we still doing buisness outside the nugget. I didn’t even hear about the incident until I stopped at the Arlen Ness booth to register for the bike givaway and was told it was canceled due to the “incident”.
Local law enforcement and the local cities of Reno and Sparks are pretty on top of minimizing this kind of crap because they realize it will cost them big $$$ if people don’t come back.
The Virginia City Silver Run was great.Rode up the both Friday and Saturday. What a fantastic ride up the road to get there from Reno. Love the old west atmosphere there in town. Had a few shots with beer chasers at the Bucket of blood. Very cool place. Chesters Reno Harley Davidson was packed and had several vendor booths there as well.
Thursday rode around Lake Tahoe. If you have never done it you need to. We took almost the entire day to make it all the way around. You pass through these little hamlets every few miles. Very scenic.
Am I planning on going back next year? Absolutely.
This is why I hate 1%ers they ruin everything and give Chopper Builders and owners a bad name.
I say let them legalize drugs and them those buttheads can stay home and get high and the rest of the american unemployed can get their jobs and that they want and will work at.
SSDD; David
RE:(Zyon)
“…I live amongst the largest population of Pagans around and I show them all due respect when we cross paths. I don’t want my bike to become their bike. I respect their way of living even if I don’t choose to live that way…”
Listen-up. This is very simple….
“Respect” has to be earned, it can’t be demanded.
Sounds to me like you said that you “Respect Pagans” because they can take your bike from ya ….. Is that right???
Dude, you’ve got “respect” confused with “fear.”
You say “… I don’t choose to live [their] way….”
So, exactly why is it that you felt the need to be at that funeral….???
Basically, “your known by the company that ya keep.”
Hang-about…..???
(one way for a young person to really fuck-up their future)
-nicker-
Overreaction to bikers and the issues they present is fairly common among local and state leaders; case in point Myrtle Beach and their mayor and city council’s ` crusade against anything even remotely resembling a biker . It is always tragic and stupid when the criminal element of motorcyling stinks up a good event and it is understandable that the local community has valid safety concerns , but declaring marshal law and suspending free commerce due to an isolated incident is overkill. For those who frequent so called ” biker events ” there is an understanding about the culture and the social dynamics that are at work . The overwhelming majority of said events are relativlely peaceful and most incidents are the ” loudmouth ” variety, But I have noticed over the years , especially lately, that there are new groups that don’t adhere to the long accepted and established policy of steering clear of normal citizenry , based on a kind of gentlemens’ agreement to do what needs to be done but refrain from drawing the local authorities into the situation. Not all bikers are 1%ers and not all 1%ers are thugs , but many times we are judged in a ” bunch ” . Would the govenor declare a state of emergency and suspend all activities , if there was a shooting at or near a , let’s say ,a Nascar event, football game etc, etc. In Myrtle Beach the shooter wasnt even a biker but it happened in the local area during , black Bike Week , so black bikers and bikers in general were vilified.
some good news here about the arrest….RIP Mr Pettigrew..
http://www.ktvu.com/news/29346309/detail.html
http://www.ktvu.com/news/29346309/detail.html
RE:
“…security video at the casino shows Gonzales shooting Pettigrew four times in the back…”
In the back?
Ah… what a class act.
-nicker-