Police Fear Escalating Turf War

A 63-year-old biker suffered a severe beating in Philadelphia Sunday night, all because he switched sides. But switching sides in this high stakes turf war is no small matter.

It's all about who's going to control illicit drug, sex & other operations in Philadelphia and along the east coast. In the latest incident in this escalating turf war between the Pagans and Hells Angels motorcycle gangs, 63-year-old John Giorno of Northeast Philadelphia was viciously beaten with an ax handle and stabbed. All of this happened in front of his wife late Sunday.

Captain Jim Murphy/Philadelphia Police: "He was assaulted by about 5 other males."

63-year-old John Giorno was a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang for over 30 years, but recently defected to the Hells Angels group which has been making significant inroads into traditional Pagan territory.

Captain Jim Murphy/Philadelphia Police: "He was patched over as they say to the Hells Angels, we believe this was a retaliation for his patching over."

Giorno is still hospitalized with numerous injuries and 3 stab wounds but he is expected to pull through.

His attack, apparently at the hands of his former colleagues, is but the latest round in a major turf war. The Hells Angels are trying to move in on Pagan territory – trying to wrestle control of lucrative but illegal operations involving sex & drugs. The Hells Angels are suspected in the firebombing of two tattoo parlors in Philadelphia owned by Pagans and possibly a homicide.

Captain Jim Murphy/Philadelphia Police: "We believe that there's a takeover, there's 3 chapters in this area in Philadelphia – 3 chapters of Pagans and we believe that they're patching over to the Hells Angels."

But its not just Philadelphia they want. Authorities say the Hells Angels want to control the entire Mid-Atlantic corridor, which includes, PA, NJ, NY & Maryland. A corridor currently controlled by various chapters of the Pagans with roughly 500 members. The Hells Angels are also believed to have instigated a deadly rampage at a biker convention outside a Nevada casino two weeks ago in which 3 bikers were killed, 12 others wounded. For their part, the Pagans aren't sitting idly by. They crashed the Hells Angels annual Hellraisers Ball on Long Island recently resulting in a bloody rampage. It's expected to escalate.

Captain Jim Murphy/Philadelphia Police: "We're very, very concerned about this."

If the history of this war teaches us anything, expect a retaliatory act on behalf of John Giorno. Giorno tells police he knows who his attackers are, but he's not telling police the identities of those involved. While he is not telling police, you can rest assured that information will end up in the hands of the Hells Angels leadership.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP