Three People Killed and Five Injured in Shooting at New Mexico Biker Rally

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Multiple people were shot and at least three people were killed at a motorcycle rally in Red River, New Mexico, on Saturday, according to local officials.

Three people were killed and five injured in a shooting at a biker rally in Red River, New Mexico, on Saturday.

The Memorial Day rally in Red River, the town's 41st annual installment, turned violent on Saturday when shots rang out at the packed event between rival gangs. 

Mayor Linda Calhoun confirmed three people died and multiple were injured and that the horrific incident was gang-related. One victim was airlifted to Denver. 

The body of one victim was seen covered in a white sheet on the sidewalk while another victim was stretchered into an ambulance and another airlifted to Denver.

Holy Cross Hospital in Taos was put under lockdown with local police guarding it, while The University of New Mexico Hospital is being monitored by the Albuquerque Police Department, according to State Police. 

The New Mexico State Police have deployed more officers to Red River for the investigation and have asked citizens to avoid the city while that happens. 

An officer was heard reporting a 'rolling shootout' about 6pm between the Banditos Motorcycle Club - a dangerous biker gang - and someone else, according to Taos News.

'They are shutting down Red River,' another officer advised over the police scanner, according to the local report.   

Witness, Eddie Cook, of Benbrook, Texas, told KOAT that 'there were people running by where we were standing, screaming: ''They're shooting down there'',' as the dangerous scene erupted. 

'I never heard shooting the first round but as they come by, everybody was running,' he said.  

The Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, who was off-duty, shared a photo of the event 30 minutes before the shooting occurred.

 He wrote on Twitter: 'Prayers for all impacted by todays shooting in my hometown. Was a great day as I having dinner with my wife in Red River. What a helpless feeling not having a badge, gun or radio as State Police officers and others enter the restaurant and slowly everything closes down and you don't even know if you can get to your car or if it's in the scene.' 

The Mayor of Taos, Pascualito M. Maestas, issued a curfew from 10pm to 4am and all retailers are banned from selling alcohol during this time.  

The Albuquerque Journal originally reported that the shooting occurred at the Motherlode Saloon in Red River, but the bar took to Facebook to deny it was the scene of the bloody conflict.