What started as a charity Bike Night ended in chaos Wednesday evening after a fight escalated into gunfire at Cadillac Ranch in Southington, Connecticut.
Police say one 25-year-old man remains in critical condition after the shooting. Another man, a 44-year-old motorcycle shop owner, was seriously assaulted during the incident but is expected to recover.
According to investigators, the altercation began as a personal dispute involving a former customer and the motorcycle shop owner. Police say the confrontation quickly turned violent when several men joined the fight. During the melee, a handgun was reportedly taken from the victim, and at least one shot was fired. Investigators are still working to determine exactly who pulled the trigger.
Authorities arrested eight men following the incident.
Four men, identified by police as being affiliated with the Diablos Motorcycle Club, face second-degree assault charges in connection with the beating. Four others were charged with interfering with officers after allegedly refusing to cooperate with police at the scene.
The event was a regular Bike Night that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and typically draws hundreds of riders from across the region. Because of the large crowd, Southington police activated a regional emergency response, bringing in officers from multiple surrounding agencies to help secure the scene.
While incidents like this make headlines, they remain the exception rather than the rule. Across the country, thousands of charity rides and bike nights are held every year without violence, raising millions of dollars for veterans, children’s hospitals, first responders, and local communities.
The investigation remains active, and police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded video to contact investigators.