Police last night were looking for a 25-year-old man accused of murdering the reputed leader of the Outlaws motorcycle club during a melee at an East Toledo bar late Thursday.

Robert Wymer, whose last known address was listed by police as 645 Segur Ave., was charged with murder in an arrest warrant issued yesterday.

Police said he is being sought for the shooting death of Bruce Hicks, 45, whose address was listed as 36 North Hawley St.

Wounded in the shooting at the Rider's Edge bar, 531 Oak St, was Timothy Conkright, 41, of 526 Oak St., though no one last night had been charged with that assault.

Mr. Conkright was listed in fair condition last night in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center with gunshot wounds in his head and shoulder.

Mr. Hicks, who was pronounced dead at St. Vincent shortly after the shooting about 11:20 p.m., was the younger brother of Wayne Hicks, who was at one time the second-highest-ranking Outlaw in the country. Wayne Hicks last year testified for federal prosecutors in Tampa in a sensational trial that led to the conviction of Harry “Taco” Bowman, the leader of the national Outlaws and a onetime member of the FBI's 10-Most-Wanted Fugitives list.

Despite Bruce Hicks' alleged ties with the notorious motorcycle gang, Thursday's shooting began as a simple bar fight, police said.

“This was about a bunch of kids that hang around together in the south end,” Detective Danny Navarre said. “It was just a bar fight.”

Police said the incident began earlier in the evening when a bartender stopped serving alcohol to several men at the bar. The group became belligerent, harassing the bartender and threatening other employees, witnesses later told police.

Mr. Hicks, a regular at the bar, ordered the men to leave, which they did.

“He was there. He knows the bartender, and they're calling her names. He steps in to make them leave,” Detective Navarre said.

But the group returned about 30 minutes later “with additional support,” according to a police statement. Again, Mr. Hicks ordered them out of the bar.

“As they're leaving, there's allegations that the people in the bar are assaulted by those who are leaving,” said Sgt. Tim Noble. Mr. Hicks tried to close the door on the crowd, the sergeant said, “at which time, a guy opens fire.”

Seven bullet holes marked the front door of the bar, which was closed much of yesterday. Two women outside said they were too upset to speak. At Mr. Hicks' listed residence on Hawley, a man behind a solid, locked wall said no one inside had anything to say.

First Published October 26, 2002, 11:42 a.m.