April 19, 1993
Fatalities included 76 Branch Davidians of which there were approximately 25 children among the causalities and 4 ATF Agents.
Confusion over the number of deaths stems from different agencies/organizations reporting, and the how that number was being calculated. Historical accounts, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center’s analysis, cite 25children among the 76 Branch Davidians that perished in the final attack however, figures differ slightly between reputable historical summaries, and the range of 20–28 children is most commonly referenced in official and journalistic publications.
The Cause
Most will agree that the Branch Davidians were a Religious Cult that settled outside the city of Waco, Texas at a compound called Mount Carmel and was led by Vernon Howell who was now going by the name of David Koresh. The basis for the investigation was based on two principles. The first being the stockpiling of illegal weapons in the form of fully automatic AR-15’s, production of homemade muzzle silencers, and manufacturing of explosives. This information was obtained from a UPS worker who had made many deliveries from a known arms dealer to a gun store owned by the Branch Davidians and on one occasion he had observed a package that had broken open revealing inert hand grenades. Once notified the ATF began the process of procuring a search warrant that would be served on compound.
The second principle was based on allegations that Koresh was sexually abusing children within the compound. He was known to have told male disciples that they should remain celibate while their spouses would become his wives and bear his children. Koresh was said to have fathered a dozen children and had taken child brides as young as 12-13 years old.
To assist in the ongoing investigation, an undercover agent had infiltrated the group and a surveillance post was set up across the road from the compound however, their cover story of being students was easily dispelled as their movements and activity did not align with their cover.
Feb. 28th - Executing the Search and Arrest Warrants
Based on events happening around them, Branch Davidians were prepared for some type of imminent government intervention and serving of these ATF warrants was the beginning of a cascade of failures that would ultimately turn this event into a tragic moment in history. ATF agents lost their surprise advantage simply because a reporter who had been tipped off about the raid, stopped a postal worker to ask for directions. That postal worker just happened to be Koresh’s brother-in-law who in turn notified compound residents of the ATF’s arrival. Shortly thereafter a convoy of civilian vehicles rolled up and ATF agents exited their vehicles dressed in tactical-style SWAT gear.
As with so many historical events, this is where the picture gets clouded with each side accusing the other side of firing first. Suggested reasons for the cause of the gunfight range from an “accidental discharge” of someone’s weapon to a team of agents that had been sent in to euthanize the dogs in a kennel so those animals could not be used against them. Whatever the reason, a firefight ensued that lasted for about two hours, but after 45 minutes the rate of gunfire had slowed due ATF agents running low on ammunition. The local Sheriff’s department claimed they were not made aware of this raid but were now on scene and finally negotiated a cease fire. That local Sheriff later stated in a documentary film interview that ATF agents only withdrew once they had expended all of their ammunition.
When a cease fire was initiated the Branch Davidians held their fire during an ATF retreat and allowed all dead and wounded agents to be removed from the battle site.
Total deceased were 4 ATF agents and 5 Branch Davidians. One additional member, who was caught outside when the shooting began was killed when trying to re-enter the house while shooting a pistol at agents.
David Koresh was also wounded in the lower abdomen during the conflagration.
The Siege
A siege of Mount Carmel compound then ensued for the next 51 days. A team of 25 FBI negotiators (FBI agents took over the scene after the ATF debacle) were able to secure the release of 19 children. For nearly a month, the FBI employed aggressive tactics using sleep deprivation by all night broadcasting of sounds over loudspeakers such as jet engines, pop music, Buddhist chanting and rabbits screaming as they were being slaughtered. It was also at this time that water and power had been cut off to the compound forcing further hardships amongst the Davidians, but the FBI was not devoid of its own problems as two factions developed within their ranks. One to continue with negotiations and the other advocating for use of force to bring about an end to the siege.
Did these aggressive tactics work? At one point Koresh ordered 11 followers to leave the compound who were then promptly arrested. Many of the children still remained though, knowing that those who previously left with their mothers were immediately separated from them when their mothers were arrested.
On April 14, 1993 Koresh indicated that once he was able to author his interpretation of the Seven Seals from the Book of Revelations, he would exit the Mount Carmel compound and surrender to authorities.
Once again this created a deep division amongst FBI personnel with one group seeing this as a breakthrough and the second group opined that this was just an attempt for Koresh to buy time to prepare for a final violent confrontation.
The Assault
On April 19, 1993 Then Attorney General Janet Reno approved recommendations by the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team to initiate the final assault. Combat engineering vehicles with a long boom arm punch holes in the outer walls of the compound and inserted tear gas in the hopes of driving out the remaining Branch Davidian members. There are different versions of what actually happened at this time. The FBI maintains that no shots were fired by them and that all of the shooting was coming from within the compound itself. It was at this point that a fire or fires broke out. Some say because of tear gas canisters and others saying it was because the Branch Davidians were actually setting fire to hail bails within the compound itself.
Nine people escaped the burning building, but another 76 perished including Koresh, by a variety of means. Official autopsy results concluded that many of these individuals did not die in the fire, but instead suffered gunshot wounds that were either self-inflicted or in some cases inflicted upon them.
Reflection
As I sit here preparing this article, it takes me back to the day we visited the Mount Carmel Compound in Waco, Texas. It was somewhat of a dreary day with light rain showers. We drove through the gate, and down the long drive to where the compound once stood. It was eerily quiet. Although overgrown, some of the structures were still visible such as the pool, the tower and most sadly the bus where many of the children died. I don’t know of any plausible reason for keeping the bus on display. The bus itself was all crumpled up but uncovered with a sign to point out its location. Visiting the site was a powerful reminder of what had occurred there even though visually there wasn’t much to see however, if you’re familiar with the story your mind will take you back to that day.
Part 2
As tragic as this event was, it was just the beginning, because it sparked the radicalism in a young man named Timothy McVeigh who visited the Mount Carmel site twice during the siege and was nearby on April 19th. McVeigh expressed anger over the ATF raising its flag on the site at the conclusion of the siege. Unbeknownst to a reporter on the scene who interviewed McVeigh, he along with his Army buddy Terry Nichols would begin plotting the largest domestic terrorist event in US History when McVeigh drove a Ryder truck up to the front of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City and set off a bomb.
Please see my Part 2 magazine article on the Oklahoma City Bombing which occurred two years to the day after the Waco Compound fire.