Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club responds to police criticism after Omaha homicide
Authorities are investigating a homicide that took place near the North Omaha club over the weekend.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club has operated near 30th Street and Ames Avenue in Omaha since 1957.
The club has seven chapters, including Lincoln, Fremont, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Puerto Rico.
On Tuesday, Danny Robinson, the national president of Los-Diablos, made a statement to the family of Alexander Whitcomb, as well as the Omaha community.
Police say Whitcomb was shot and killed near the motorcycle club around 4 a.m. Sunday.
“On behalf of the Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club, our condolences go out to Alexander Whitcomb and his family,” Robinson said in his statement. “It’s a tragedy that unfortunately took place. We don’t condone that, and the Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club is in full cooperation with law enforcement to resolve this issue.”
Robinson went on to say that gun violence has become a problem in the community and that it needs to stop.
But on its Facebook page, the Omaha Police Officers Association accuses the Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club of being a “magnet for violence,” saying it’s time for the group to be shut down.
Tammie Toney was outside the club when the shooting took place in the early morning hours of Sunday.
“It was a lot of people out here, so you couldn’t really see what was happening,” Toney said. “All you really heard was gunshots. When I heard the gunshots, I just immediately thought, ‘Oh my God, not again.’ Because this isn’t the first time guns got shot in this area during that [hour of the day].”
Toney says Los-Diablos isn’t responsible for the shooting, and club members told 6 News that the trouble started somewhere else and found its way to the club, while Robinson said that Whitcomb came to the club for protection after the shooting.
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Emergency responses are recurring at Omaha motorcycle club, 911 data shows
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According to Toney, there are “no trespassing” signs posted, but it doesn’t stop crowds form gathering outside. She believes the OPOA is putting negative light on the wrong people.
“I think people need to stop trying to follow the street code,” Toney said. “If you see something, say something. That’s the only way I see a change for the community, is if we hold these thugs and bums accountable for their actions. Period.”
Toney went on to say all of this wouldn’t happen if the Los-Diablos Motorcycle Club received the same police attention that establishments in other parts of the city do.
“Y’all are walking up and down the streets with your guns, out there protecting them, but y’all aren’t in our community protecting us,” Toney said. “Why?”
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