2 killed, 1 wounded in motorcycle club shootout at Florida VFW

By Michael Muskal

Oct. 1, 2012 12 AM PT

Four men have been charged in a Florida shootout that apparently killed two members of the local Warlocks motorcycle club, Winter Springs police said Monday.

In a televised news conference, police Lt. Doug Seely said authorities were still investigating the Sunday morning incident in the parking lot of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post before a charity ride. Thirteen guns have been recovered, along with a similar number of weapons with an edge, he said.

“We believe this is an isolated incident,” Seely said. “We believe our community continues to be safe.”

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Seeley said the shootings, which began with a confrontation, were linked to separate motorcycle groups known as the Warlocks. The Florida group, begun by U.S. Navy veterans, dates from the 1960s; the other Warlocks group is from Pennsylvania. The two groups are not affiliated with each other.

“We are still ascertaining who is affiliated with what,” Seely said “We’re still trying to sift through that.”

Police received the first call about 10:40 a.m. Sunday and arrived within minutes at the parking lot where the local Warlocks were about to leave on a charity ride.

Numerous rounds were fired, and police were still trying to determine how many. “We’ve spent a lot of time picking up casings,” Seely told reporters.

Killed by gunfire were Harold Liddle and Peter Schlette, believed to be members of the Florida Warlocks group. David Jakiela remained hospitalized in critical condition, Seely said.

Police detained 12 people at the scene, but after questioning have charged four and released the others, Seely said.

Seeley said the suspects are being held without bail on two counts of homicide and one count of attempted homicide. Arrested were Victor Amaro, 41, Robert W. Eckert, 38, David Maloney, 52, and Paul Smith, 47.

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