Ruby Ridge

Ruby Ridge in the United States

Federal Bureau of Investigation: History Ruby Ridge and Waco Incidents

Introduction to Ruby Ridge

In the early 1990s the FBI’s involvement in two violent standoffs-the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents-raised new questions about its operations and use of deadly force. In the Ruby Ridge incident, federal marshals traveled to a remote mountain cabin near Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in August 1992 to arrest white separatist and anti-government activist Randall (Randy) Weaver, who was wanted on a weapons charge. A shootout ensued in which a federal marshal and Weaver’s son were killed. The next day, FBI sharpshooters surrounded Weaver’s cabin, with authorization to “shoot on sight” any armed adult in the vicinity of the cabin. One of the sharpshooters shot and killed Weaver’s unarmed wife and wounded Weaver and a friend. Weaver was later acquitted of all major weapons charges and received a government settlement of $3.1 million, in which the government admitted no wrongdoing. Investigations by the Justice Department and Congress condemned the agency’s use of excessive force and resulted in disciplinary actions against FBI officials.

In the Waco incident in 1993, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) launched a raid on the compound of the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas, whose members were suspected of purchasing illegal weapons. During an ensuing gunfight, four ATF agents were killed, 16 agents were wounded, and a number of Branch Davidians were killed or wounded, although it is not known for certain how many. On April 19, 1993, following a 51-day standoff with the sect, FBI agents launched a tear-gas assault on the compound to force the Branch Davidians out. A fire soon engulfed the compound, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 Branch Davidians, including many children. Although the FBI was severely criticized in the aftermath of the tragedy, a federal judge and a special counsel concluded in 2000 that the Branch Davidians had deliberately started the fire and that federal agents were not responsible for their deaths. Critics maintained, however, that the FBI could have been more patient in ending the standoff.

The Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents led the FBI to institute several reforms. The agency revised its policy on deadly force to permit such force “only in the face of imminent death or serious physical injury to the officer or another person.” It also revised its procedures for reviewing shooting incidents to ensure an impartial investigation, and it changed its policies for managing crisis situations.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

Guide to Ruby Ridge

In this Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation Structure, FBI Jurisdiction and Investigative Responsibilities, FBI Agents, Law Enforcement Services, FBI Law Enforcement Services (including FBI Fingerprint Identification, FBI Laboratory, FBI Criminal Profiling, FBI Police Training, National Crime Information Center and Crime Statistics), FBI History (including FBI Early Years, Hoover Reforms, FBI in the World War II and Postwar Era, FBI Antiradical Activities, FBI Reform, Ruby Ridge, FBI Under Freeh and September 11 Attacks), FBI and the Patriot Act and National Lawyers Guild.


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