Ruby Ridge

August 21, 1992

While attempting to apprehend Randy Weaver for failing to appear in court on a weapons charge, U.S. marshals encounter Weaver, friend Kevin Harris, and Weaver’s 14-year-old son Sammy and his dog. The marshals shot and killed the dog prompting a gun battle that ended in the death of Sammy who was shot in the back and the U.S. marshal who was shot by Harris. The following day, while preparing Sammy’s body for burial, an FBI sharpshooter opened fire wounding Weaver and killing Weaver’s wife who was holding the door open when he ran back to his cabin. She was holding their infant daughter at the time. Weaver, his remaining children, and Harris later surrendered. Harris was acquitted of all charges, and Weaver was acquitted of all charges except for the original arms charges. He was fined $10,000 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but was credited with time served. Timothy McVeigh would cite this and the Waco Disaster as his reason for the Oklahoma City Bombing.