Author: terry.katz

Inmate who killed Quebec biker-turned-informant behind bars denied parole

Alvin Starblanket and another inmate stabbed Aimé Simard 187 times in 2003 at Prince Albert Penitentiary in Saskatchewan.

By Paul Cherry • Montreal Gazette Published Mar 02, 2026

Inmate who killed Quebec biker-turned-informant behind bars denied parole

Aimé Simard was stabbed to death in prison in 2003.

A man who helped carry out the murder of a Quebec biker who turned informant on the Hells Angels has been denied parole, in part, because he recently attacked another fellow inmate.

In a decision made last week, the Parole Board of Canada denied full parole to Alvin Starblanket, 44, an Indigenous man who has been convicted of killing people twice, including a priest.

Starblanket is serving the life sentence he received in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Aimé Simard, a former member of the Rockers, a support club of the Hells Angels Nomads chapter based in Montreal during Quebec’s biker gang war.

Simard decided to become an informant in 1997 after he was arrested for a murder. He testified in court against people tied to the Hells Angels, including fellow members of the Rockers. He admitted to killing three people for the gang as well as three attempted murders.
In 1998, Simard testified in a murder trial at the Montreal courthouse. Five other men tied to the Rockers were accused of murdering a rival drug dealer, but all were acquitted.

In 2003, Simard was behind bars at the Prince Albert Penitentiary in Saskatchewan when Starblanket and another inmate stabbed him 187 times. A witness who testified at the trial of the other inmate who attacked Simard said he was present when Starblanket agreed to kill Simard for $25,000. According to the summary of the parole board’s decision, Simard “had a contract on his life issued by a criminal organization.” Simard was about to testify in a murder trial in Halifax when he was killed.

Starblanket was at the penitentiary in Saskatchewan for killing a priest in 2002 in a northern part of that province. He was sentenced to a 12-year prison term for manslaughter.

On July 8, 2002, while out on a statutory release from another sentence, Starblanket was unlawfully at large “and posed as a male prostitute to make money. You were picked up by the (priest) and taken to a park. While at the park, you repeatedly punched and kicked the victim, and left with his car, cash and credit cards. You were arrested a few days later,” the parole board wrote in its summary of Starblanket’s first homicide. “Later in July 2002, the victim died as a result of the injuries sustained during the attack.”

The summary describes Starblanket as having been put through Canada’s residential school system and having “suffered a dysfunctional childhood.”

“Growing up, you experienced physical and sexual abuse, poverty and neglect. You also witnessed domestic substance and physical abuse. You were placed in foster care at a young age, where you experienced physical abuse and sexual abuse at a group home. You report that you frequently attempted to run away from foster care to return home,” the author of the summary wrote.

“Concerningly, in January 2026, you repeatedly punched an elderly, disabled inmate, who was considered vulnerable. You also attempted to use your foot to stomp on the inmate. Despite several warnings and attempts by (guards) to stop you, you refused to comply and resisted being handcuffed.

“A homemade stabbing weapon was subsequently removed from your back pocket. Following the incident, you had a medical seizure and required treatment at an outside hospital. A search of your cell revealed two additional weapons.”
A month before the inmate was assaulted, a psychological assessment of Starblanket determined that any form of a release, including day parole, would be premature.

“In conclusion, the board has considered the relevant factors in your case and has determined that you will present an undue risk to society if released on full parole,” the summary of the decision says. “The board has come to this conclusion based on your concerning criminal history, your concerning institutional behaviour, the absence of a comprehensive release plan and the further work you need to do to address your risk factors through programming.”

pcherry@postmedia.com

North Las Vegas police: Shooting between 2 motorcycle gang members outside bar turns deadly

by: Julia Romero KLAS 8 News Now March 2, 2026
https://www.8newsnow.com/crime/north-las-vegas-police-shooting-between-2-motorcycle-club-members-outside-bar-turns-deadly/
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man faces murder charges after a fight outside of a bar between two rival motorcycle gang members turned deadly, according to a North Las Vegas police report obtained by 8 News Now.

Man dies days after North Las Vegas shooting, suspect arrested

Jesse Robinson III, 36, was arrested on Feb. 25 and faces charges of open murder with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder, according to online jail records.

The shooting took place on Feb. 21 after police found a man lying in the roadway with gunshot wounds to the left side of his chest in the 4800 block of Camino Al Norte. The man was later taken to a hospital and died a few days later on Feb. 25. The suspect left the scene before officers could arrive, North Las Vegas police said.

Officers investigating the scene of the shooting spoke with a female witness who stated that an “unknown man wearing a red shirt” was seen fighting with the injured man before she heard a gunshot. However, she told police she did not see who fired the gun, according to the police report.

During the investigation, officers also looked at video surveillance footage outside and inside the bar. In the video, a man wearing a red shirt was seen before the shooting paying for drinks with a debit card under the name Jesse Robinson III, before the shooting, police said.

During the police investigation, another female witness told police a man in a red shirt approached the other man outside the bar, and that a physical fight started in the parking lot. The female witness also told police they heard a gunshot and ran to the man who had fallen to the ground. She told police that she did not know the man in the red shirt.

Surveillance video outside the bar also showed Robinson walking to his truck and then speaking to someone in a black SUV. A short time later, a silver Chevrolet Tahoe arrived, and a man exited the vehicle. The driver of the Tahoe then walked to an area that was not covered by video surveillance, and the black SUV drove to that area with Robinson following them on foot, according to the police report.

An officer investigating the video later stated, “As I watched the video surveillance, I saw an unknown male walking ahead of Jesse [Robinson] and Jesse covered his face with his shirt as they walked toward his truck and the Chevrolet Tahoe,” according to the police report.

In the surveillance video, a woman was then seen driving away from the scene in Robinson’s truck. Meanwhile, Robinson is seen getting into the passenger side of the Tahoe and riding away. The black SUV is then seen following the two vehicles a short time later, according to the police report.

During the investigation, an officer tasked with investigating criminal activity in outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG), motorcycle clubs (MC) for the past nine years, identified the man who was shot as an active member of the Satudarah outlaw motorcycle gang and that the man seen in the red shirt, who was identified by police as Robinson, a member of The Chosen Few outlaw motorcycle gang, according to the police report.

The investigating officer also confirmed that the two clubs had recently been at odds with each other and that there were documented shootings between the two clubs in Southern California, according to the police report.

Police investigators deemed the shooting between the two men as gang-related and determined that a gang enhancement would be attached to the criminal charge, according to the police report.

Following the death of the man shot in the fight, police served a search warrant at Robinson’s home. While searching Robinson’s home, police found the red shirt seen in the surveillance video during the fight, along with Robinson’s motorcycle club vest, according to the police report.

During the investigation, police also stated that they believed Robinson was working with several other people “prior to and after the shooting,” according to the police report.

On Feb. 25, Robinson was taken to the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center, where he faces charges of open murder with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder, according to online records.

Robinson is expected to make a court appearance on Tuesday, March 3.

Two dead in Palm Springs motorcycle club shooting

By Gavin Nguyen KESQ February 28, 2026
Published February 28, 2026 10:11 AM
https://kesq.com/news/top-stories/2026/02/28/two-dead-in-palm-springs-shooting-investigation-underway/Email

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department was investigating an overnight shooting during a motorcycle club event that left two people dead.

The department said, in a press release, it received several 911 calls about a fight and gunfire shortly after midnight Saturday morning. Five people were reportedly shot. According to the department, two adults were hospitalized but later pronounced dead. Three others were being treated for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

News Channel 3 crews spotted several evidence markers on the ground in front of businesses at 19345 N Indian Canyon as law enforcement investigated the violence.

The Palm Springs Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit and the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Forensics Services unit were both seen working the scene Saturday morning.

According to police, preliminary information indicates a motorcycle club was hosting a private event at an industrial complex in the area when a disagreement or altercation occurred during the gathering, and gunfire started. Detectives were working to determine the circumstances that led up to the deadly shooting and to identify those involved.

No arrests had been made as of Saturday, but officers said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Investigators were continuing to process the scene and interview witnesses. Anyone with information that may assist detectives was asked to contact Detective Gilberto Alcaraz at 760-323-8132 or Gilberto.Alcaraz@palmspringsca.gov, or provide anonymous information through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP (7867).

Several businesses within the North Village Center were impacted because access into the center was restricted. Crime scene tape remained up and investigators were continuing to work the scene as of 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Investigators were anticipated to remain on scene for several more hours as they combed through both physical and digital evidence.

Judge recommends dismissing Twin Peaks massacre civil lawsuit against ex-DA Abel Reyna

By Jessica Rajkumar and Tommy Witherspoon
Published: Feb. 25, 2026 at 7:15 PM EST|Updated: 23 hours ago
https://www.kwtx.com/2026/02/26/judge-recommends-dismissing-civil-lawsuit-against-former-da-abel-reyna-tied-2015-twin-peaks-biker-shooting/

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A federal magistrate judge has recommended dismissing the remaining civil lawsuit filed by bikers arrested following the 2015 Twin Peaks shooting in Waco, which left nine people dead and 20 wounded.

On Monday, Magistrate Judge Derek Gilliland issued a recommendation that former McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna and former Waco Police Department Officer Manuel Chavez be shielded by qualified immunity from liability in the lawsuit.

More than 170 bikers were arrested following the shooting that resulted from a confrontation between the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle clubs.

Former DA Reyna ordered the arrest of any biker wearing colors similar to those of the two clubs.

All charges were later dismissed by Reyna and his successor, Barry Johnson.

The bikers who filed the civil lawsuit alleged their civil rights were violated when they were arrested without probable cause.

Reyna has maintained he was acting within the scope of his authority as District Attorney and claimed qualified immunity from the lawsuit.

Through the course of the litigation, several cases against the City of Waco, McLennan County, the former Waco Police Chief and other officials were dismissed.

The remaining case against Reyna and Chavez has moved back and forth between multiple courts.

Gilliland’s recommendation now goes to U.S. District Judge Alan Albright.

Court documents indicate the plaintiffs could not overcome Reyna’s defense that he was acting within his responsibilities as district attorney.

If Albright grants the summary judgment, the cases would likely be appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

If the 5th Circuit agrees with Gilliland and Albright, the lawsuits would be dismissed, and no one would be held responsible in Waco courts — civilly or criminally — in connection with the shooting, the deadliest biker-related shooting in U.S. history.

Tom Brandt, the attorney representing Reyna, says they are pleased with the magistrate’s recommendation and look forward to Judge Albright’s decision.

Dallas attorney Don Tittle, who is representing many of the bikers involved in the incident, said both sides would appeal any decision back to the 5th Circuit.

Tittle said it was disappointing for people who spent weeks in jail to see no accountability and no legal recourse.
Copyright 2026 KWTX. All rights reserved.

UNBELIEVABLE! 1%ers Outcast, Hells Lovers & Sin City Party Together St. Louis

Locked & Loaded for the Black MC Set in St. Louis, Missouri—Outcast MC, Hells Lovers MC, Sin City Deciples MC, declare peace for a night of Unity: “by KAOS”

UNBELIEVABLE! 1%ers Outcast, Hells Lovers & Sin City Party Together St. Louis

It was January 31st, 15 degrees above zero with a wind chill of 5 below, and my 2001 Chevy Suburban was betraying me. Failed thermostat. Dead heater core. I was freezing my ass off, breath fogging the windshield, and gloved hands numb on the steering wheel. But that’s the biker life. Sometimes the two wheels stay parked, and you gotta slide into an old cage to handle club business.

This wasn’t optional. My club—Scooter Boyz MC, Alton chapter—was riding support for the 1% club we were patched under, Sin City Deciples MC, East St. Louis Chapter, and leadership had made it crystal clear, “Don’t miss this one. It’s important.”

I got off work later than expected and had already missed the “operational plan” meeting, so I rolled up solo. No crew, no radio chatter, no heat—just me, my rags, and the cold.

Six blocks away from the spot, I knew something was different. Goodfellow Boulevard was packed with cars two deep, side-by-side, streets looking like a ghetto car show. My first thought, “This can’t be the OLS Unity Party… too many rides.” But it was.

We all knew the historical beef between the 1% MCs on the black set runs deep—lives lost on every side. Nobody came expecting a fairy tale. We came expecting anything.

I drove past the Omega Center and found parking a couple blocks down in a cheap car sales lot, then hiked back. As I did, I saw hundreds of people making the same trek through the snow, some coming, some going. As soon as I arrived, the sight hit me. There were hundreds of brothers and sisters in their rags lined up waiting to get in. Many were fed up with waiting because the lines were so long they couldn’t get in. Frustrated, they left the cold lines and went home. However, the energy was thick in the air. No fear on any faces—just smiles.

Real smiles, the kind you don’t fake. Still the tensions were high but the expectations even higher. I saw a few bikes parked out front and could only admire the steel it took to ride on two’s through the snow and 15-degree weather to get there. One of the bikes even had a California plate. That was when I realized this really was a nationwide event.

Security was locked down tight. All three clubs had full patch brothers at the door. This was when I realized why so many people had turned away. They were giving everyone that entered a thorough pat-down and that took a lot of time. There were at least a few hundred in the line braving the cold. I guess many just couldn’t hang through the wait.

Photo: The packed Omega Center floor on January 31—over 3,000 brothers and sisters under one roof, Sin City Deciples MC patches holding strong in the foreground, real unity with no beef in sight. The energy was thick, smiles everywhere, and the vibe melted decades of tension.

The first thing that hit me was the sheer number of people attending. There must have been three-thousand inside and another two thousand who had already come and gone or were outside the Omega Center waiting to get in. But more important was the camaraderie among the 99% clubs. Some of the clubs in attendance were the Scooter Boyz MC, Steel Dragons MC, Rare Breed MC, Crown Royal MC, Dem Boyz MC, and Ghost Doggs MC, and their sister clubs—Scooter Babez MC, and Lady Dragons MC. But there were others clubs in attendance.

There were Social Clubs (SC) in attendance as well such as, Scooter Gyrlz SC, RareLadies SC, Steel Ladies SC, Rising Divaz SC, among others—all under one roof with the 1% holding up the four corners. But instead of side-eyes and stiff shoulders, it was handshakes, daps, and, “What’s good, fam?”

Outcast MC had the east wall. Sin City Deciples MC had the south, and Hells Lovers MC had the stage. Each of the 1% clubs had chapters from all over the country in attendance. According to Outcast MC, St. Louis chapter, President, Gunho, there were at least 600 members from the 1% clubs alone.

The bass from the stage vibrated through the space like a battle axe for unity. That beat wasn’t just music—it was pure power. It melted away twenty years of tension in one night. Soon, the social clubs started bopping to the music. A sister from the Scooter Babez MC looked up, smiled, and passed me a bottle of Don Julio. I took a pull and officially fell into the vibe.

Unity wasn’t a slogan that night—it was the air we breathed:

At first, the 99% clubs hung back a little. You could feel it—that cautious energy. We’ve all seen what can pop off when sets get too close. But as the night went on, the music kept calling, the smiles kept spreading, and one by one the brothers connected. Because that’s what real bikers do—we represent the whole family. How you move reflects on every patch on the set.

A few days later, I had an opportunity to sit down with Sin City Deciples MC, East St. Louis chapter President, Spark Plug. He broke it down simple: “When you’re Sin City, we treat you like you came out the same mother.” He went on to say, “Either you’re a biker or you’re not. If one biker does something wrong, we all get blamed for it. So unity is a profound step toward the future.”

“God, Family, Sin City that’s the order of the way we do things. That family bond is what makes the difference.” — Sin City Deciples MC East St. Louis chapter President “Spark Plug”

When asked how the concept of the Unity Event was conceived, Spark Plug said the local presidents of the three 1% clubs have known each other for years, and it was that long-time respect that opened the door to the event. He said, “The energy felt right, and the time was now.” He went on to say, “We want this positive wave to spread.”

In an interview with Black Dragon TV, President Gunho, said, “One thing for sure, man, we put it together like that. And nobody gets out of line, nobody disrespects the [OLS] party. It’s a three-club party to show we can do it the right way, without any violence. Each individual controls their own nation.” He also added that a fine would be imposed on any 99% club patched in under the three 1% clubs if they were to spark anything off. In this author’s humble opinion, a monetary incentive such as this could be a key ingredient to success for future events.

The power of peace beat the power of war that night

The three clubs are already talking about doing it again—bigger, more two-wheelers, and warmer weather. President Gunho mentioned the idea of an event called “Race and Rags,” this upcoming summer.

In this author’s opinion, an event like this would be a great way for the set to get back to its roots, racing against each other instead of fighting each other. Many may not know that MC culture began as racing teams that later formed into MCs. A good read on the origins of this part of MC history can be found in the book “Motorcycle Club Protocol 101” by John E. ‘Black Dragon’ Bunch II, available on Amazon,
Kindle and at BlackDragonsGear.com. Racing and not fighting is the way the set was originally intended to be. Clubs raced for respect, fun and money, and the 1% could be a guiding light in the dark to getting mc culture back to its roots. But for now, we wait.

This winter’s OLS Unity party broke records for attendance without violence. In my estimate, there were at least five-thousand that showed up throughout the night. Imagine what it’s gonna look like when the weather’s good and everyone’s out on twos.

To every brother and sister reading this: the streets remember the old days, but they’re watching the new ones too:

If the 1% clubs in St. Louis can turn decades of beef into one powerful night of unity…then every set in America—hell, in the world— can do the same.

Peace isn’t soft, peace is strength.
Ride safe. Stay solid.
See you on the next one.
Scooter Boyz MC,
Alton, Chapter
Sergeant At Arms
Curtis “KAOS” Phillips

B.C. Hells Angel caught with duffel bags full of drugs at border gets day parole
A high-profile B.C. Hells Angel has been granted day parole after a cocaine smuggling conviction — despite his membership in the biker gang
:
By Kim Bolan
Published Feb 19, 2026
https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-hells-angel-drug-smuggler-jason-arkinstall-day-parole

A high-profile B.C. Hells Angel convicted of smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine into Canada has been granted day parole, despite his continued membership in the notorious biker gang.

The Parole Board of Canada said in a Feb. 10 ruling that Jason Cyrus Arkinstall, 52, must not associate or communicate with his biker gang-mates or possess more than one cellphone during his six months on day parole.

Board members Carol-Ann Reynen and Jennifer Strachan said the special conditions were necessary “in order to protect society, and to facilitate your successful reintegration into society.”

“You have been open about your association to a recognized OMG (outlaw motorcycle gang) in Canada in which you have been a member for many years,” their written ruling said.

“While you deny having committed your crime in relation to this group, it is evident from police information that the level and quantity of drugs suggests high-level organized crime.”

Arkinstall was sentenced to six years and three months in prison in October 2022 after he tried to bring 90 kilograms of meth and 118 kilograms of cocaine into B.C. from Idaho on Oct. 23, 2020.

U.S. border agents spotted Arkinstall and a friend near the border with five duffel bags full of drugs. The two men fled but were later arrested on the Canadian side of the border.

He pleaded guilty in September 2021 to importing the illegal substances.

“Since your arrival in federal custody, you have assaulted another offender on your living unit. Force was used to stop the fight,” the board members said. “There is also information that you attempted to set up a poker game on the sports field. In February of 2024, you held a party on two occasions in the gymnasium with other members of your OMG.”

The Correctional Service Canada opposed Arkinstall’s release on day parole. The parole board ruling notes that while he wanted to be sent to a community residential facility in the Fraser Valley, none would take him because of his Hells Angels membership.

“Consultation with police indicates they do not approve of your release in the area,” the board members added.

Despite the concerns, board members Reynen and Strachan said that Arkinstall would get statutory release in less than a year anyway and day parole would help “reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.” They noted that he had been involved in programming and “made some gains in your insight.”

Your institutional behaviour in the past was somewhat concerning, especially as it related to continuing adherence to criminal or anti-establishment values but has notably improved in recent months,” they said.

Arkinstall told the parole board that his crime was “spur of the moment” and a result of losing money on some bad investments. The street value of the drugs smuggled was estimated to be worth $17 million.

Arkinstall, a long time member of the Mission City Hells Angel chapter, told the parole board that his chapter “is made up of generally noncriminal, `taxpaying’ members,” the ruling said.

But Mission City is among three Hells Angels chapters sued in December by the B.C. government, which is seeking forfeiture of their clubhouses for alleged links to criminality.

“The Hardside chapter, Mission chapter, and Haney chapter are each a criminal organization,” the lawsuit, filed by the B.C. director of civil forfeiture on Dec. 2, said. “Members of the Hardside chapter, Mission chapter, and Haney chapter have used the Hells Angels’ reputation for violence for the purpose of intimidation and other unlawful activity, all for material gain of the chapters and their respective membership.”

So far none of the Hells Angels chapters or members named as defendants, which includes Arkinstall, have filed a response.
kbolan@postmedia.com

Southington man second suspect to be charged in killing of victim found in Somers, police say
Christine Dempsey Yahoo News February 13, 2026
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/southington-man-second-suspect-charged-195137341.html

SOMERS – State police have made a second arrest in the shooting death of a Massachusetts man whose body was found in a remote area of Somers four-and-a-half years ago.

Zachary Joseph Apt, 34, of Main Street in Southington, was arrested at his home Friday on murder and other charges stemming from the Aug. 5, 2021, death of Jason R. Comes of Wilbraham, Mass.

Apt is the second person arrested in the homicide, which Connecticut State Police have said was “directly connected to a known motorcycle club.”

The trial for the first person charged with murder, Timothy Lange of New Britain, is scheduled to start Tuesday in state Superior Court in Rockville, state judicial records show.

This article originally published at Southington man second suspect to be charged in killing of victim found in Somers, police say.

**************************
Man arrested after four-and-a-half-year long homicide investigation

By Zoe Strothers
Published: Feb. 13, 2026 at 2:36 PM EST|Updated: Feb. 13, 2026 at 2:38 PM EST
https://www.wfsb.com/2026/02/13/man-arrested-after-four-and-a-half-year-long-homicide-investigation/

SOMERS, Conn. (WFSB) – A second suspect has been arrested four-and-a-half-year’s after the murder of a 38-year-old Massachusetts man.
34-year-old Zachary Joseph Apt was arrested today at his home in Southington. He has been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit robbery in the third degree, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to kidnap, among other charged.

Apt is the second arrest in this case. Last year, police arrested New Britain resident Timothy Lange.

Timothy Lange was arrested on a felony murder charge for the death of a man in Somers in 2021, according to state police.(Connecticut State Police)

Their arrests come after a four-and-a-half-year long investigation into the death of 38-year-old Jason Comes of Wilbraham, MA in Aug. 2021.
Comes was found dead from a gunshot wound in a vehicle in a remote area of Durkee Road in Somers, state police said.
Apt is being held on a $2,500,000 court set bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Tuesday.

Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.

Mongols motorcycle member gets 5 years in connection with Ontario bar killing

By RYANNE MENA | rmena@scng.com February 7, 2026 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Ontario, California,

Mongols motorcycle member gets 5 years in connection with Ontario bar killing

A member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club was sentenced Friday, Feb. 6, to five years in federal prison in connection with the killing of a man at an Ontario bar last year, authorities announced.

Clifford “Buckshot” Michael Lavoy, a 52-year-old resident of Montclair and a Mongols Motorcycle Club member, pleaded guilty in October to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering, specifically aiding and abetting assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Lavoy and 35-year-old Upland resident Julian “Juls” Pulido violently attacked a member of a rival motorcycle gang Vagos at an Ontario bar

last March, according to an affidavit attached to a criminal complaint. The victim is identified in court documents only as “V.S.”

Lavoy and Pulido inside the bar approached V.S., who was wearing clothing that showed his Vagos membership, authorities said. The defendants argued with the victim and told him he needed to show them respect as members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, prosecutors said.

The defendants later assaulted and overpowered the victim by punching him in the face and choking him, resulting in injuries to his face, head and neck.

When V.S. was trying to run out of the bar, Pulido allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him several times in the back, authorities said. The victim fell through the door of the bar and bled out on the sidewalk. Pulido and Lavoy fled the area. V.S. died at the scene at 2:45 a.m.

Later that day, Pulido led police on a nine-hour pursuit across five California counties. He was arrested after crashing a black Dodge vehicle into a ditch during a high-speed chase along Highway 46 near Lost Hills in Kern County. At the time, he had the same Mongols-branded clothing he wore on the night V.S. was killed.

Pulido, charged with murdering a rival motorcycle club member, pleaded not guilty. He is in custody awaiting trial in November.

Comancheros Operation Avon: Gang treasurer Lucane Bolstad jailed for major meth supply

Al Williams Open Justice reporter· New Zealand Herald NZ Herald· 9 Feb, 2026
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/comancheros-operation-avon-gang-treasurer-lucane-bolstad-jailed-for-major-meth-supply/5C3IPLLUXZAAPP57UEAD7UG3WA/

Comancheros Christchurch treasurer Lucane Michael Bolstad remains loyal to the gang as he begins a long jail term for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar drug operation which led to the arrest of every patched member of the chapter.

Bolstad played a key role in distributing large amounts of cash, cocaine and methamphetamine in the South Island.
He joined the gang in 2023 and quickly rose through the ranks to become treasurer in 2024.

He consequently became entangled in Operation Avon.

Now, he has admitted taking part in the organised criminal group, and supplying methamphetamine, cocaine and a firearm.
Timaru drug supply network

The High Court at Christchurch today heard he frequented gang meetings in Christchurch, but lived in Timaru, where he ran a drug supply network.

That involved the distribution of 3.5 kg of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Crown prosecutor Abbie Hollingworth said that while he was not the most senior member, he was an important link in the chain of a drug supply line between Auckland and Christchurch.

Hollingworth said he had autonomy and a management function over the Timaru drug supply network
.
He had a “tick list” with one key buyer and debts of $120,000 a week were described as “normal” for Bolstad.

But it came crashing down when Operation Avon culminated in 21 arrests as police executed dozens of search warrants in Canterbury, with a handful in Auckland in August 2024.

The Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros had become a priority target of the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) in early 2024, supported by Canterbury police, as their offending spread across New Zealand.

Police found $45,000, a money counting machine and two boxes of ammunition at Bolstad’s Timaru address.

Defence lawyer Olivia Jarvis said drug addiction was a key driver in his offending, but Justice Jonathan Eaton disagreed, saying Bolstad was driven by gang membership.

Justice Eaton said reports showed Bolstad had no desire to separate himself from the Comancheros.

“He, like others I have read reports on, has expressed no desire to separate himself from the gang.

“The Comancheros have a strict rule not to use meth but they deal in it.

“So long as you are associated with the gang you are going to commit yourself to a life of offending.

“As long as he stays with the gang it’s not going to be good.”

Justice Eaton said Bolstad would have had a good degree of knowledge of the gang’s operations.

The court heard Bolstad had three daughters and had acknowledged the impact of his offending on them.

Jarvis said he did desire to make changes “whether leaving the gang or not”.

“While he is staying loyal to the gang, his desires are to better himself.

“He acknowledges that he placed his addiction above his children.”

Justice Eaton said it was frustrating as a judge, as it was guaranteed the courts would have the same submissions over the next few months, as more Comancheros caught up in Operation Avon appeared for sentencing.

“If everyone could confront their genuine remorse, let’s distance ourselves from the gang.

“It’s not addiction to drugs; it’s addiction to his gang.”

Justice Eaton said Bolstad was at high risk of reoffending.

‘Little insight into harm’

“You show little insight into harm, you show little remorse, you describe your offending as merely business.

“The distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine leads to countless victims.

“The whole of society is harmed.

“It’s difficult to categorise your role, there’s no doubt that in Timaru you had autonomy, as treasurer of the South Island you must have had a good idea of how the operation worked.

“In terms of the broader operation, you were acting under instruction; you did manage aspects of the overall operation, but I do not accept that drug addiction was the driver, gang membership was the key driver.

“You were one of the main guys.”

Justice Eaton sentenced Bolstad to eight years and eight months’ imprisonment.

Sixth person arrested in connection with shooting of judge, wife in Indiana
February 4, 2026 / 11:24 PM EST / CBS/AP
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sixth-arrest-shooting-judge-wife-lafayette-indiana/
A sixth person was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting of a judge and his wife in their home in Lafayette, Indiana, in January, local officials said.

The Lafayette Police Department reported Wednesday night that 23-year-old Nevaeh Bell was taken into custody in the Jan. 18 shooting that wounded Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kim.

Police said Bell faces 12 preliminary felony charges, including two counts of attempted murder and a count of conspiracy to commit murder.

Five others were arrested last month after what the Lafayette Police Department called “a coordinated, multi-state operation involving hundreds of investigative hours.”

They were identified as 38-year-old Raylen Ferguson and 61-year-old Zenada Greer of Kentucky, as well as Indiana residents Thomas Moss, 43, Blake Smith, 32, and 45-year-old Amanda Milsap.

Police have accused members of a motorcycle club and a street gang of targeting Meyer, alleging the shooting was part of a scheme to derail a domestic abuse case against Moss, a member of the Detroit-based Phantom MC motorcycle club with ties to the Vice Lords street gang.

Moss was charged with multiple violent felonies in June 2024 and was out on bond, according to court records, which also show that he was scheduled to go on trial in front of Meyer on Jan. 20 — two days after the shooting took place.

Meyer and his wife, Kim, were shot at their home. Steven Meyer suffered an injury to his arm, and Kimberly Meyer sustained an injury to her hip, according to police.

According to a recording of the emergency dispatch operator, the caller who reported the shooting said there was a knock on the door, someone told them we have your dog, and then a shot came through the door.

Kim Meyer said in a statement last month that she and her husband have “great confidence” in the Lafayette police investigation and thanked all the agencies involved.

“We are also incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community; everyone has been so kind and compassionate,” she said. “We would especially like to thank the medical personnel who provided care and assistance to us following the incident.”

Adam Harrington and Sarah Lynch Baldwin contributed to this report.