Iron Order Motorcycle Club member cleared in shooting

I have followed the shooting case of the Black Piston member, Zachariah Tipton, with much interest as just before this shooting took place, I had interviewed members of the Iron Order Snow City Crew near Edmonton.

Over the past several months, members of the 1% world have blasted me for reporting on the Canadian chapters and members of the IO MC because in the US,  the Iron Order is hated by the 1% clubs.

The IO MC which is a three piece outlaw club with a prospecting phase and is seen as a cop club by the 1%ers because they allow officers of various law enforcement agencies to be members.  Reportedly the 1%ers say the IO MC in the US tends to instigate trouble in an attempt to allow law enforcement a way in to the various 1% clubs.

They are also hated because they wear Black & White which are the colours of the Outlaws (AOA) of which the Black Pistons are affiliated and they do so without having gone to the dominant for approval of their cuts as COC protocols would dictate.  They did not go to the dominant because the IO does allow law enforcement members and are therefore not welcome into the Confederation of Clubs (COC). 

The verdict regarding the shooting at Nippers Beach Grill in Jacksonville Beach, Florida that took place on June 26, 2014 is in.

The State Attorney's office is not filing charges against the Iron Order MC prospect, Kristopher Stone, who shot and killed Zach Tipton. Justifiable homicide & justifiable use of deadly force by a citizen is the ruling.

The report is 10 pages long and it outlines the investigation into the shooting and identifies many of the witnesses who were interviewed.  

I have saved the PDF into JPEG's for those who wish to read the State Attorney's findings, please watch the page numbers at the bottom of the images as Blogger makes it tough to get things in order.

There is also video to go with the report. 

The 2 videos that accompany the report have been edited for time (IE - when the Black Pistons park their bikes and then walk to the Iron Order members takes about 4 minutes - that has been edited)

The first video is the TV report/Press Conference presentation:

This second video is less edited:

I will sum the report up for you:

The Black Pistons - 7 of them ride by members of the Iron Order MC and go park their bikes.

A few minutes later, three members of the Black Pistons walk towards the IO MC members, two from the front and one from behind.

Kris Stone was hit in the back of the head by Zachariah Tipton, while he had been talking to one of the Black Piston members who met him face on.
A fight ensues that lasts about 10 seconds.

During this time, other members of the Black Pistons are approaching the fight.

Kris Stone pulls his weapon and fires, killing Zachariah Tipton. The other Two Black Piston members do not provide aid to their brother, in fact they flee the immediate area.  Some members reportedly return a few minutes later to remove Zachariah's cut.

According to police, Zachariah Tipton had three knives, ammunition and a gun holster on him but his gun was not found. He also had brass knuckles and a mouth guard and was still wearing his motorcycle helmet and riding gloves. During his autopsy it was noted that his hands had injuries consistent of someone who had been throwing punches.

Also according to the report, other members of the Black Pistons were also thought to be wearing mouth guards and were seen to be removing them and either rings or brass knuckles although authorities cannot be 100% sure what they were removing.      

From all indications this was a planned attack by the Black Pistons.

Also according to the report, Kristopher Stone, the shooter is a combat medic who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Mr. Stone had suffered blows and kicks to his head, his nose was broken and he had urinated himself during the attack. His hands showed no sign of having thrown punches.

In this case, the Iron Order Motorcycle Club is NOT the club who instigated the fight, it was clearly unprovoked and the Black Pistons were obviously the aggressors.

This is what it means to be a three piece patch wearing club member.


If you wear a three piece patch, although your club is reportedly a law abiding club, there will come a time when you will be called out and forced to defend your cut and your right to wear it.
Are you ready?

In this case, the aggressor dies.
As in all fights, the outcome could have been much different.

If you would like the PDF so you can read it, contact me and I'll be happy to send you a copy.

What say you?

Have a fantastic Saturday and if you are blessed to be living somewhere where snow does not cover the ground, I hope you are riding!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

An enormous thank you and a special offer!

As many of you know, the last year has been very challenging.  The lawsuit launched by the people of Sturgis North/Canada has been pressing to say the least. But...this community has supported me emotionally and financially, helping me to keep our community newspaper going and all of the rider support tools we offer up and running by ensuring the business didn't have to pay the lawyer too much.

This lawsuit has had so many twists and turns and it has been trying, tiring, time consuming and discouraging.

For the time being I have decided not to move forward with defending myself since the other side has not been communicating with my attorney and leaving the suit in limbo anyway.  I will resume the defense once the business is in the position to better pay a lawyer to do so, if I need to.

Since all communications had stopped, I took matters into my own hands and went to the BC Securities hearing for Mr. Sasseville this past week and I was finally able to meet with Mr. Sasseville's attorney face to face and have a chat.  I presented the attorney with the consent to dismiss orders for the other four parties who are also in a legal limbo and myself.

If all goes well and the other parties sign off, this case could be on its way to being over.

If not, at least the other parties know that I am not scared to meet them face to face and they know I will move forward at a later time of my choosing to force a resolution if needs be.

So, while not OVER, for now the pressure and grief are over, at least for a little while and there is hope that an end could really be in sight!

My final legal bill for this portion of the case was $3,490.00, right now I still owe about $2,200.  Thanks to Sam Henderson of Eyecandy Custom Cycles, I have another $800 to put against that bill!

Eyecandy Custom Cycles in Smithers BC had done customization on a bike for the people suing me and as a result, he had a set of custom rims and brakes to sell.  He did so through an online auction which raised $800.  So thank you Sam, I am so deeply appreciative of the support!

I am now blessed to announce that I have another small business stepping up to help me get this "final" bill off my plate!

Donald from BigBlue Lifts is putting $25 from every lift sold through the ad below into my defence fund!

So, not only do you get FREE SHIPPING anywhere in Canada, but my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm when you tell Donald that I sent you!

So, if you are in need for a motorcycle lift that has a small footprint with HUGE lifting capability, check out www.bigbluincanada.com and then call Donald and remember to say "BELT DRIVE BETTY" sent me, so you get free shipping and my defence fund gets a $25 shot in the arm!

I simply can't say thank you enough to everyone who is helping me get through this.
There are so many of you to thank.
There are no words that can express my gratitude.

Thank you community, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider