Judge declares mistrial in first Waco shootout case

Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A judge in Texas declared a mistrial after a jury said it couldn't reach a verdict in the first case to go to trial related to a motorcycle gang shootout in Waco.

Jurors told 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson they were deadlocked Friday in the trial of Christopher Jacob Carrizal. The 35-year-old, president of the Dallas chapter of the Bandidos gang, was charged with directing the activities of a criminal street gang and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity with the underlying offenses of murder and aggravated assault.

Carrizal was among 170 people arrested in May 2015 for a gunfight between the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle club. Nine people died and dozens were injured in the incident, which also involved law enforcement officers at a Twin Peaks restaurant.

"There wasn't enough evidence that the Dallas Chapter, and specifically Jake Carrizal had committed any violence against any person that wasn't self-defense so today it's a victory," Carrizal's attorney, Casie Gotro, told KXXV-TV in Waco.

McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna said he intends to retry Carrizal.

"We received good feedback from the jury and I think it is feedback we can utilize to make our case stronger," he said. "We knew this when it started, that this was going to be a tough fight and the one thing I can say is that I'm not going to give up."