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Anniversary Of Branch Davidian Raid Passes Quietly
More articles on this topic: Branch Davidians(Feb. 28, 2006)–The 13th anniversary of the deadly federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco went almost unnoticed Tuesday.
On a cold and rainy Sunday morning 13 years ago, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents launched a massive raid on the compound that left four agents and six Davidians dead.
The agents planned to serve search and arrest warrants based on evidence the Davidians had assembled a large arsenal that included illegal weapons.
Investigators also cited evidence of child sexual abuse and drug production at the compound.
In the wake of the deadly fire that destroyed the compound 51 days after the raid, investigators recovered charred firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, although critics still challenge claims that many of the weapons were illegal.
The drug lab allegation turned out to have been based on information that was several years old and debate continues on whether Davidian leader David Koresh sexually abused some of the teenage daughters of his followers.
More than 70 federal agents were assembled for the raid, but gunfire erupted moments after trucks pulling the two cattle trailers in which the agents were riding rolled onto the grounds of the Davidian compound.
There is still disagreement over who fired first, but by the end of the day four agents and six Branch Davidians were dead.
More than 20 other agents were injured.
The government maintains the Davidians, who had been warned of the raid, were lying in wait.
Surviving Davidians, however, say agents fired first, striking an elderly member of the group, Perry Jones, who accompanied Koresh to the front door of the compound.
Then deputy Sheriff Larry Lynch, who now serves as McLennan County’s Sheriff, helped negotiate a cease-fire after one of the Davidians, attorney Wayne Martin, called 911 shortly after the gunfire erupted, allowing agents to remove their dead and injured.
The shootout stunned the ATF. The FBI moved quickly to take over operations and was in charge during the 51-day standoff that captured the attention of the world.
At one point, there were as many as 1,000 media representatives assembled along a rural McLennan County Farm to Market Road in an area that became known as Satellite City.
Analysts later said the intense media scrutiny of the government’s handling of the standoff may have contributed to the FBI’s decision to use tear gas in an attempt to break the impasse.
FBI agents in armored vehicles pumped tear gas into the compound in an assault that began early in the morning on April 19, 1993.
Just after noon, fingers of flame began to shoot from one end of the compound.
A strong wind fanned the flames, which quickly engulfed the poorly constructed wood frame building.
Only a handful of those inside made it to safety. As many as 80 died in the fire, including women and children.
Officials later admitted that pyrotechnic teargas devices were also used in the assault, but the government continues to maintain that the Davidians set the fire themselves.
Click Here To Read U.S. Justice Department Review
Eleven surviving Branch Davidians were later tried in federal court in the deaths of the four ATF agents who died in the raid.
All were acquitted of murder, but four were convicted of the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.
Federal Agents Killed In Feb. 28, 1993 Raid
Conway LeBleu, 30, New Orleans Field Division
Todd McKeehan, 28, New Orleans Field Division
Robert Williams, 26, New Orleans Field Division
Steve Willis, 32, Houston Field Division
Branch Davidians Killed In Feb, 28, 1993 Raid
Winston Blake, 28
Peter Gent, 24
Peter Hipsman, 28
Perry Jones, 64
Jaydean Wendel, 34
(Michael Schroeder, 29, was killed by gunfire later in the day outside the compound)
Raid Chronology
5 a.m.
76 agents assemble at Fort Hood for the drive to the staging area at the Bellmead Civic Center. According to a later Treasury Department Review, the agents drove in an 80-vehicle convoy with a cattle trailer at either end that stretched for a mile.
9:45 a.m.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents move in on the compound. A gun battle begins.
9:48 a.m.
Branch Davidian Wayne Martin, a Waco attorney, calls 9-1-1. Martin died in the April 19, 1993 fire.
11:30 a.m.
Cease fire reached.
5 p.m.
ATF spokesman Ted Royster said gunfire continued sporadically through the afternoon.
7:30 p.m.
Cult leader David Koresh, also known as Vernon Howell, is interviewed by CNN
8:15 p.m.
ATFspokeswoman Sharon Wheeler said negotiations continue with Davidians and gunfire has ended.
10:05 p.m.
Koresh talks for about 20 minutes on KRLD Radio in Dallas, describing his beliefs and saying he is the most seriously wounded of the Davidians.
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