Rival Biker Gangs Allegedly Behind Deadly Shootout At Southwest Oklahoma City Bar

Police said on Monday that rival biker gangs were behind a deadly shootout at a southwest Oklahoma City bar over the weekend.

Monday, April 3rd 2023, 5:15 pm

By: Jennifer Pierce

OKLAHOMA CITY -

Police said on Monday that rival biker gangs were behind a deadly shootout at a southwest Oklahoma City bar over the weekend.

Three people died and several others were injured including one of the suspected gunmen. Police arrested Tyler Myers, 34, after he was released from the hospital. Court documents showed Myers was punched in the head on Saturday by a rival biker gang member and that started the deadly gunfight.

Bullet holes riddled the inside the Whiskey Barrel Saloon on Newcastle Road and South Shawnee Avenue.

When officers arrived at the bar on Saturday night, they found three men deceased inside the bar.

Investigators have identified two of the victims as 29-year-old Eric Oberholtzer and 38-year-old Francisco Tanajara. The third man's name is currently unknown.

“Another three were transported to area hospitals,” Msgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department said. “I know at least two of them were treated and released.”

One of the injured was Myers. New court documents indicated Myers and Oberholtzer were members of the Homietos bike gang.

Investigators pulled security video to piece together what led up to the shootout. They noted a group from the rival gang Bandidos started a physical altercation with Myers.

Police said Myers was the first to pull out a gun, causing bar patrons to panic.

“It’s unclear what the beef was they had with each other,” Knight said. “But we’re talking about several different biker gangs that were in there and in the end, they were all shooting at each other.”

The bar's owner told News 9 the shootout was the first time a fight between biker gangs has turned deadly at her establishment. Regular bar customers said the Whiskey Barrel Saloon was a safe place with a family-like atmosphere.

“We hug each other when we get here. We hug each other when we go home,” Lisa Harvey, a bar patron, said. “It’s a true family here.”

Harvey helped clean up the bar after the shooting and said the violence has devastated their small community.

“Please pray for all the families and friends that were affected,” said Harvey.

Police said the investigation was not over and there could be more arrests in the future.