David Koresh

David Koresh was an influential man who gained the loyalty of many followers. He and his cult, the Davidians, lived in peace in a compound in Waco, Texas, until February 28, 1993. There was a warrant out for his arrest, and on that day, approximately 76 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) went to the Davidian complex to arrest Koresh on illegal weapons charges. Unfortunately, Koresh did not cooperate, and the result was tragic. Gunfire was exchanged between the Davidians and the government agents. That day, 4 federal agents were killed, and 16 were wounded. Six Davidians were also killed, and Koresh was wounded.

February 28 was the beginning of an ongoing battle between the federal government and the Davidians. The government began to negotiate with [Page 275]the Davidians, and 46 people, including 21 children, came out of the complex peacefully. However, there were still nearly 100 people remaining in the complex, and after March 23, 1993, no one else came out voluntarily. According to reports, the government became concerned about the health and safety of the children inside, and on the morning of April 19, 1993, Federal FBI agents warned the Davidians that tear gas would be used if they did not come out of the complex. The group did not come out, and that afternoon, federal agents drove tanks into buildings of the complex to spray tear gas and create exits for those inside—but the complex became engulfed in flames. At least 80 Davidians died in the fire, and David Koresh died from a gunshot wound. Only nine cult members survived.

David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell, became in 1990 the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect in Waco, Texas. This doomsday cult broke away from the Seventh Day Adventists and eventually ended in a stand-off with Federal agents. Nearly 90 cult members were killed as well as four Alcohol, Tobbaco, & Firearms agents.

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There was speculation that the federal government was responsible for the fire and caused the deaths of the cult members. Many investigations would follow. In October 1993, an investigation on the confrontation exonerated the FBI and the Department of Justice. However, other private investigations still indicated that the government was responsible for the deaths. One of them revealed that the fire began as three separate fires, each set approximately 2 minutes apart. This finding suggested that the government agents, who had fired three pyrotechnic shells of tear gas into the compound, were responsible for the fire. Yet another investigation indicated that the fires had been set by the Davidians themselves.

In April 1995, family members of the Davidians and survivors of the confrontation filed a civil lawsuit against the government. The case was heard, and many investigations of the April 19 incident commenced. Although some investigations found that the government acted inappropriately and was ultimately responsible for the deaths, many found that the Davidians were responsible. For example, one reports that on April 19, nine Davidians fled from the complex, but none of them rescued children. In addition, the investigation described how the Davidians themselves set the fire without giving any of the sect members, including the children, the opportunity to escape. As a result of the findings against the Davidians, Judge Walter Smith dismissed the $675 million lawsuit brought by survivors and family members.

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