La Plata was transformed into a battleground last weekend during the Hells Angels’ annual “World Run 2025” convention. What was supposed to be a global meeting of bikers ended in a violent shootout with the rival group Tehuelches MC, leaving three gunshot wounds and a city on alert. On Saturday the 18th at noon, on the corner of 44th and 26th streets, a caravan from Tehuelches was ambushed by members of the Hells Angels who got out of a van and two dark cars. After an argument, an exchange of gunfire broke out that lasted minutes, with motorcycles falling to the asphalt and pedestrians fleeing in terror. Two wounded people were hit in the arms and legs, while a third was shot in the abdomen and back. All were taken consciously to local hospitals.
A viral video captured the drama: one of the injured, a native of Chacabuco, staggered into a service station asking for help. “He was injured in the lower back. He collapsed in front of the counter; we called the police and the ambulance right away,” said an employee.
This was not an isolated event. The previous Friday, the Hells Angels were involved in two fights: one with car guards in front of the government, which escalated involving app delivery people, and another on 6th Street between 48th and 49th, with pushing and shouting that alarmed the neighbors. Security cameras recorded the tension, with no serious injuries but with a climate of growing insecurity. The arrival of up to 3,000 members from around the world for the event sparked fear, reviving its reputation for links to organized crime.
Resume. It is key to understand who the Hells Angels are. Founded in 1948 in Fontana, California, by World War II veterans passionate about Harley-Davidsons, the club was born as a space of post-war camaraderie and rebellion. Its name is inspired by military air squadrons, symbolizing freedom on the road. They expanded rapidly: today they operate in more than 50 countries with autonomous chapters, united by a strict code of loyalty and hierarchy.
Its iconic image – leather jackets (“cuts”) with sacred patches, tattoos and roaring motorcycles – hides a controversial history. The US Department of Justice classifies them as a criminal organization, accusing them of drug and weapons trafficking, money laundering, extortion, prostitution and homicides. Each chapter controls territories, using legal businesses such as bars or workshops as fronts for illicit activities. Their motto, “When we do good, no one remembers. When we do evil, no one forgets,” sums up their defiant stance toward society and the law. Membership is exclusive: it begins with “hang-around” (observer), progresses to “prospect” (apprentice, performing humble tasks for months or years) and culminates in “full patch” after a unanimous vote. Unbreakable rules include no drugs while wearing colors, no talking to the press or police about the club, and severe punishments for betrayal, from beatings to burning tattoos. Only Harley-Davidson motorcycles are allowed, and leaving the group can be dangerous.
His rise to global infamy occurred on December 6, 1969 at the Altamont Free Concert, California. Hired by the Rolling Stones as “security” in exchange for beer, the Hells Angels turned on a crowd of 300,000 people. Armed with pool cues and chains, they attacked unruly fans. The climax: Meredith Hunter, an 18-year-old African-American youth, pulled out a revolver in self-defense and was stabbed by Angel Alan Passaro, who was acquitted of self-defense. The event left four dead (including drownings and a car accident) and symbolized the end of the hippie era of peace and love.
In Argentina, they arrived in 1999 with a chapter in Buenos Aires, expanding to Mendoza (2004), Córdoba (2014), Cipolletti and Venado Tuerto (2017), San Isidro (2019), Luján (2021) and a nomadic group (2006). Its presence has been turbulent, marked by territorial rivalries. Figures such as Daniel “Dani La Muerte” Díaz León, former leader of the Buenos Aires chapter and bodyguard of Ricardo Fort, embody his local influence.
In 2016, an armed confrontation with Tehuelches in Luján left four injured – including Díaz León with nine bullets – and 14 detained, with more than 150 shots fired at a roundabout on Route 5 and 47. Justice prosecuted several for abuse of weapons and injuries, but without definitive convictions. While the Hells Angels reject the label of “criminal gang,” their passage through Argentina leaves a trail of bullets, injuries and questions about public safety.
