30 years since Waco standoff
On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.
The following text is from The Associated Press article, “Seven Dramatic Weeks of Bloodshed, Standoff At Cult Compound,” on Monday, April 19, 1993.
Key developments in the standoff at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas:
Feb. 28: About 100 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents move in on the compound Branch Davidian leader David Koresh. Four agents are killed and others wounded in the 45-minute battle. Koresh, also known as Vernon Howell, later says he and others were wounded and his 2-year-old daughter killed. Four children released.
A Texas National Guard armored personnel carrier heads towards the Mount Carmel compound of the Branch Davidians cult near Waco, Texas on Sunday, Feb. 28, 1993. Federal and local law enforcement officials are at a standoff with the cult after cult members opened fire on Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents, killing at least four and wounding 15, as they attempted to execute a search warrant on Sunday morning. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
March 1: Ten children released. Koresh speaks on radio, saying the gun battle was "unnecessary." The broadcast is the last live public comment from Koresh.
The Mount Carmel compound of the Branch Davidian cult can be seen in the distance near Waco, Texas, March 1, 1993. Six people were killed in a shoot-out Sunday at the compound, when federal agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants on cult leader David Koresh. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
March 2: Two women, six children released. Koresh agrees to surrender if a lengthy taped statement is broadcast; sermon is broadcast on radio and TV but Koresh does not keep agreement.
News people listen to David Koresh’s taped radio address at the roadblock outside the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Tuesday, March 2, 1993. (AP Photo/David Breslauer)
March 3: ATF holds first major public briefing, announcing that Koresh said he would surrender when he received "further instruction from God." One child released.
A portable toilet is allowed past the roadblock towards the forward command post near the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, March 3, 1993. Cult leader David Koresh has told federal authorities he would end the bloody siege when he received "further instructions from God," the FBI said Wednesday. Negotiations are continuing, according to Jeffrey Jamar, a special FBI agent in charge. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
March 4, 5: Two more children leave compound. Authorities say Koresh has denied an intent to commit suicide.
Jeff Jamar, FBI special-agent-in-charge of the San Antonio bureau, answers questions at a media briefing in Waco, Texas, March 4, 1993. Another one of the Branch Davidian cult's children was released from the compound today, bringing a total of 20 children and two adults released so far. (AP Photo/Susan Weems)
Law enforcement officials gather at the command center set up at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas on Wednesday, March 4, 1993. The standoff with the Branch Davidians religious cult was in its fourth day outside the central Texas town. (AP Photo/David Breslauer)
Gene McCracken, of Waco, Texas, uses high-powered binoculars as he tries to catch a view of anything near the Branch Davidian compound outside Waco on Friday, March 5, 1993. (AP Photo/Rick Owmer)
Baylor University students and a couple on vacation from Mississippi try to catch sight of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Thursday, March 5, 1993. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
March 12: Two adults leave compound.
A small group represents the Liberation Party protest outside the Waco Convention Center, where the federal agents hold a daily news briefing on the Branch Davidian cult, in Waco, Texas, March 13, 1993. The group is protesting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raid on the compound on February 28. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
March 15: Steven Schneider, Koresh's top aide, and attorney Wayne Martin, meet with an FBI negotiator and McLennan County Sheriff Jack Harwell.
A McLennan County Sheriff’s Deputy stands watch on a lonely stretch of road outside the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Monday, March 15, 1993. The standoff between members of the doomsday religious cult and the Federal authorities is in its 16th day. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
CNN directors Bill Schneider, left, and Melinda Kauffman work outside their mobile office near the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Friday, March 15, 1993. The FBI said earlier that cult leader David Koresh “indicated that it was his desire to get this matter resolved.” (AP Photo/Susan Weems)
March 18: FBI begins using loudspeakers to blare tapes of negotiations to cultists.
Tony Suckla sits inside his car near the barricade of a road leading to the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, March 18, 1993. Suckla, 25, who said he is an elder in the Pleasant Grove Church of the Seventh Day Adventists in Dallas, was handing out religious books to passersby. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
March 19: Two cultists leave the compound - first to exit in a week.
Two Texas Department of Public Safety officers take it easy at a checkpoint near the Branch Davidian compound on Friday, March 20, 1993. Law officers have been in a standoff with David Koresh and his Branch Davidian followers since February 28 gunfights that ended with four Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and at least two cultists dead. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
March 21: Seven cultists leave including one who is hospitalized with heart condition.
Two unidentified women leave the Branch Davidian compound with an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent and ride into the McLennan County Jail in Waco, Texas, March 21, 1993. Officials have not released the names of the two women. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
John Mullins, left, and Bobby Evans, both of Waco, Texas, demonstrate in favor of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms near the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, March 21, 1993. The ATF has had a lot of critics since the February 28 failed raid on the Branch Davidian cult compound near Waco. (AP Photo/George Widman)
March 22: Authorities blast compound with chants of Tibetan monks, say Koresh is allowing only those to leave who would be a drain or a liability in a shootout.
A spotlight shines over the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Monday, March 22, 1993. Federal agents began playing music last night and added a spotlight to the existing stadium-style lights that had already been shining on the compound. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
March 23: Another cultist leaves compound.
A new banner proclaiming "We want Ron Englemond" appears on one of the buildings at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas as the siege continues in its 24th day, March 23, 1993. Engleman (correct spelling) is a radio talk show personality from Dallas. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
March 24: Koresh breaks off negotiations, saying sect is celebrating a "high holy day."
Branch Davidians, from left, Kevin Whitecliff, Brad Branch and Livingston Fagan, of England, are escorted into the Federal court house in Waco, Texas, March 24, 1993. The standoff with Davidian compound and Federal agents continues. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
March 28: After four days of silence, Koresh talks to negotiators again. Houston attorney Dick DeGuerin, hired by Koresh's mother, has a phone conversation with him.
Jane Cooper, left, Marsha Baucom and Jo Anne Young pray at a community prayer service for David Koresh and his followers March 28, 1993 in Waco, Texas. The standoff between Koresh and federal agents began on February 28 after four agents were killed and 16 wounded. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
March 29: DeGuerin talks with Koresh on the porch of the compound, describes conversation as "very good, useful."
March 31: FBI halts its negotiations with the sect while DeGuerin has a third day of private talks with Koresh.
April 1: Federal officials say those who left the compound noted the significance of Passover and that a breakthrough might occur in conjunction with the religious holiday.
Two Houston attorneys, Dick DeGuerin and Jack Zimmermann, leave the Branch Davidian compound after meeting for more than eight hours with David Koresh, April 1, 1993. The two are trying to end the nearly five-week standoff near Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
After being on assignment for more than a month at the Branch Davidian compound, Houston television photographer Kevin Benz gets a haircut from Karen Moyers-Ciesielski at the media encampment near Waco, Texas, April 1, 1993. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
April 3: FBI says Koresh appears closer to ending standoff but is still waiting on a sign from God, agents say they will change tactics if Passover comes and goes without a surrender.
Mark Vost, right, an A.T.F. supporter, argues with a group of demonstrators near a road block outside the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, April 3, 1993. The group of about 25 people taunted federal agents for their use of force during the raid on the religious cult's headquarters 34 days ago. (AP Photo/George Widman)
April 8: Cult leaders says there is no significance with Passover and no plan to surrender when it's over, FBI reports.
A Texas Department of Public Safety officer informs a sightseer that they can’t cross the police line at a checkpoint outside the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Wednesday, April 8, 1993. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Television uplink specialist Clark McFadden, of Plano, Texas, gingerly crosses standing water at the media site near the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Wednesday, April 8, 1993. As of Thursday, the siege is in its 40th day. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
April 9: Koresh sends the FBI a letter warning that an earthquake will rock the Waco area, cracking open a dam on Lake Waco.
A helicopter makes a low pass over a banner that was unfurled from a window by Branch Davidian cult members at the compound near Waco, Texas on Friday, April 9, 1993. The banner reads: “1st Seal, Rev. 6:12, PS 45, Rev. 19, PS 2, PS 18, PS 35 KJV,” which refers to several verses from Psalms and Revelation in the Bible. (AP Photo/David Philip)
The Salvation Army van has been dubbed the “Satellite City Café” at the media encampment near the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Thursday, April 9, 1993. The Salvation Army has been providing food service for the journalists covering the armed standoff in the remote area. Donations by the media have kept the service going. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
Sightseers Rosemary Copeland, 9, left, and her brother Sterling Copeland, both of Waco, Texas, stand on top of the their mother's car while trying to view the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas on Friday, April 9, 1993. The standoff has entered its 40th day. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)
April 10: Koresh sends out angry four-page "letter from God," depicting a powerful and vengeful god "who will smite his enemies." FBI says Koresh appears to be waiting for a natural disaster before ending the standoff.
April 13: Passover ends with no end to the standoff.
April 14: Koresh sends out word he will surrender after writing a manuscript in which he reveals the contents of the Seven Seals referred to in the Book of Revelations in the Bible.
James Michael Lesak, 20, of Houston, holds a cross and an artificial flower as he stages what he said was a protest over the February 28 shooting at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Tuesday, April 14, 1993. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
April 16: FBI agent says the FBI won't wait forever on Koresh, saying, "We are on our own time schedule," and not that of Koresh. Agents clear debris from the compound, using tanks to move three vehicles, including Koresh's prized black Camaro.
April 19: The compound burns to the ground after FBI agents in an armored vehicle smashed the buildings and pumped in tear gas. Justice Department said cult members set the fire. Some cult members taken into custody; fate of others not immediately known.
Flames are seen in building to right of tower and smoke billows into the sky as a fire first becomes visible at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas on Monday, April 19, 1993. The compound burned to the ground and the Justice Department said cult members set the fire. (AP Photo/Roberto Borea)