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Ruby Ridge
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Ruby Ridge refers to a violent confrontation and siege involving white
separatist Randy Weaver, his family, and Weaver's friend Kevin Harris,
and federal agents from the United States Marshals Service and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. The events took place in late August
1992 on the Weaver family property, located on a hillside between
Caribou Ridge and Ruby Creek near Naples in northern Idaho.
In the months leading up to the incident, Weaver had failed to appear
in court to answer charges relating to possession of an illegally
shortened sawed-off shotgun, and the U.S. Marshals Service was
directed to serve a warrant for his arrest. During this period Weaver
isolated himself on his property, became increasingly suspicious of
the federal government, and refused to surrender peacefully. Following
extended surveillance of the property in preparation for an arrest, on
August 21, 1992 several well-armed U.S. Marshals clandestinely
surveying the property were detected by "Striker", a pet dog owned by
Weaver's 14-year-old son Samuel Weaver. Weaver, Harris and Samuel
armed themselves, went to investigate, and the resulting confrontation
with the agents resulted in the death of Samuel, his pet dog, and US
Marshal William Degan. Two days later Lon Horiuchi, an FBI
sharpshooter, fatally shot Vicki Weaver, and injured Weaver and
Harris. The government spent $1 million per day for the 10 days of the
siege.[citation needed] The stand-off was resolved with a truce
arrangement, following which Weaver and Harris were arrested.
Contents [hide]
1 Family background and affiliations
2 Entrapment and first arrest
3 Initial surveillance and other events
4 Preparation for an assault
5 The confrontation and massacre
6 Aftermath
7 Cultural references
8 See also
9 Suggested reading
10 References
11 External links
[edit] Family background and affiliations
Randy and Vicki Weaver lived in Idaho during the mid-to-late 1980s.
Randy had served in the United States Army Special Forces at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina during the Vietnam War, eventually being
promoted to the rank of sergeant, while Vicki had worked for the
United Way. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling Amway products,
the Weavers got back on their feet and began to live a somewhat normal
American life. After the onset of the Yom Kippur War and the oil-
related issues that followed, the Weavers became disillusioned with
their church for not reacting properly to what they saw as Apocalyptic
happenings. The Weavers began researching the lifestyle of the Amish
and other self-sufficiency methodologies.[1]
In 1978, Vicki allegedly began having visions of a mountain-top home
where she and her family would be safely buffered from the end of the
world. Eventually this vision was solidified by Randy's teachings.
They spent $5,000 to purchase a 20-acre parcel in Idaho and began
raising their children in an environment away from what they believed
to be the "sinful world".
In July 1986, Randy attended the World Congress of Aryan Nations at
their headquarters near Hayden Lake. He attended at least three major
Aryan Nations functions during his time in Idaho, though he denied
being a member of the Aryan Nations church. Weaver has said, "I'm not
a white supremacist. I'm a white separatist. I was born white. I can't
help that. If I was black I'd probably be affiliated with Louis
Farrakhan's group, but as it is, I don't belong to anything. I don't
believe I'm superior to anyone, but I do believe I have the right to
be with my own kind of people if I choose to."[citation needed]
[edit] Entrapment and first arrest
Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had been
trying to infiltrate the group based at nearby Hayden Lake.
At the 1986 World Congress a biker named Gus Magisono befriended Randy
Weaver. In actuality, Magisono was undercover ATF informant Kenneth
Faderley. Gus asked Randy to sell him some sawed-off shotguns.
Initially, Randy refused, arguing that he could not afford to purchase
the shotguns, but Magisono persisted. Magisono eventually agreed to
provide the shotguns, along with instructions regarding the length he
wanted. Magisono then purchased the guns back from Weaver, ensuring
that Weaver had violated federal weapons laws. According to Magisono,
the guns were sawed off 3/8th inch shorter than the legal minimum.
Weaver denies cutting the barrels to below the legal length, insisting
that Magisono further shortened the barrels to below the minimum legal
overall length of 18 inches after purchase to create a violation.
The ATF confronted Weaver in June 1990, offering to dismiss the
weapons charges in exchange for Randy's infiltration and information
against the Aryan Nations. Randy refused, and subsequently notified
the local Aryan Nations members of the offer and his refusal.
In January 1991, Randy and Vicki stopped to assist a stranded
motorist. The motorist was actually a decoy used to provide the ATF an
opportunity to arrest Weaver for the gun charges. Weaver spent the
night in the county jail.
The next day, Randy was brought before United States federal judge
Stephen Ayers. During the hearing, Judge Ayers told Randy that he may
have to pay the government's court costs. A trial date was set. Weaver
put his house up in order to bond himself out of jail and ensure his
appearance at court. According to the documentary film Ruby Ridge --
Anatomy of a Tragedy, shown on the Discovery Times channel, Randy was
mistakenly told by a court official that it was possible that he could
lose his house if he was convicted of the gun charges.
Rather than seek a legal means to solve his problems, the Weaver
family mounted a letter-writing campaign against the FBI. In February
1991, Vicki mailed two angry letters to the U.S. Attorney's Office in
Boise. One was addressed to "The Queen of Babylon" and stated in part:
"A man cannot have two masters. Yahweh Yahshua Messiah, the anointed
One of Saxon Israel is our law giver and our King. We will obey Him
and no others ... a long forgotten wind is starting to blow. Do you
hear the approaching thunder? It is that of the awakened Saxon. War is
upon the land. The tyrants blood will flow."
The other letter, addressed to "Servant of the Queen of Babylon,
Maurice O. Ellsworth, U.S. Attny." read:
"Yah-Yahshua the Messiah of Saxon Israel is our Advocate and our
Judge. The stink of your lawless government has reached Heaven, the
abode of Yahweh our Yahshua. Whether we live or whether we die, we
will not bow to your evil commandments."
Weaver failed to appear for a court date on February 20, 1991, having
been informed that the set date was March 20 in the summons the
Weavers received. Judge Ryan declined to withdraw the warrant when he
learned that the Probation Office had sent Weaver a letter with an
incorrect trial date, and declared Weaver a federal fugitive and
issued an arrest warrant.[2]
In interviews videotaped after the standoff, the Weaver family stated
that the ATF was trying to humiliate Randy in order to make an example
of him. Upon learning he was officially classified a fugitive, Randy
extrapolated that the government's goal was to assassinate him. The
Weaver family confined themselves to their home, making few
appearances in town, always keeping rifles within reach. Randy Weaver
rarely went outdoors.[3]
[edit] Initial surveillance and other events
On March 18, 1991, Ronald Evans requested the assistance of the United
States Special Operations Group (SOG), a voluntary unit in the US
Marshals specifically trained to handle dangerous or complex matters
such as hostage situations involving fugitives. He added that many
days and nights of surveillance would be necessary to determine the
Weavers' daily routine and asked for SOG assistance in determining how
to arrest Weaver "while minimizing risk to all persons involved...
Ultimately, we must find a single weakness which will cause Randy
Weaver to leave the house if only momentarily."[4]
Due to increasing pressure to arrest Randy Weaver, the SOG was sent in
during June 1991 to conduct surveillance and lay plans for the arrest.
Dr. Walter F. Stenning, Ph.D., an outside psychologist brought in to
assess Randy Weaver, declared that Weaver's family was set in their
belief "that the end of the world is near and that his family must
fight the fences[sic] for evil that want to take over the world. I
believe his family may fight to the death."[citation needed]
Essentially, it was determined the property was strongly fortified to
repel assault and that the family was heavily armed. It was also
determined that if Randy Weaver were captured, the family would fight
to their deaths to free him, standing up to any military assault. The
optimal outcome would be to lure Randy Weaver out of the house and
serve the warrant.
On September 28, 1991, a seven-man SOG detail was dispatched to assist
in arresting Weaver. However, upon arrival the team concluded that
"the information upon which the SOG move order was issued was
inaccurate", and the plan to arrest Weaver was cancelled, because the
warrant could not be served without injury to themselves or others.
During this attempt, it was learned that Vicki Weaver was pregnant and
approaching her due date.
On July 9, 1991, Deputy U.S. Marshal Cluff and Everett Hofmeister,
Weaver's appointed counsel, told Rodney Willey, a Weaver associate,
that if Weaver surrendered, the failure to appear charge might be
dismissed. They also told Willey that the sentence on the weapons
offense would be minimal because Weaver did not have a criminal
record. On July 10, Willey informed Hofmeister that Weaver would not
surrender because "[his] rights [would] be violated."
In late September 1991, Hunt and Ely interviewed Beverly and Ed
Torrence, who owned land adjacent to the Weaver property. The
Torrences explained that they had encountered the Weavers a few days
earlier when they had gone up to view their property. At that time,
the Torrences drove near the Weaver house and stopped to ask about
some property markers. The Weaver dogs came to their car, followed by
Sammy Weaver, who called to the house. The Torrences then saw Randy
Weaver and Dennis looking down on them from a rock outcropping. Each
held a rifle or shotgun. Thereafter, the Torrences were invited into
the Weaver cabin where Randy and Vicki Weaver explained their
religious and political views. Weaver discussed the ATF arrest and
that he was expecting federal agents to come to his home, but that he
was not going to be arrested by anyone. According to Weaver, he and
his family would shoot federal law enforcement officials who came on
his property. "If they do take me, I'll take some with me", and that
is "why we have the guns." Beverly Torrence observed that Weaver
appeared vehement in his belief that he would rather fight than go
peaceably.
Sometime during Spring 1992, Buster Kittel went to the mountain to
survey property he had recently purchased. To reach his property, he
had to drive past the Weaver cabin. As he reached the Weaver driveway,
Kittel heard a shot from a small-caliber gun and saw Sammy Weaver
standing with a rifle above him, on a rock outcropping. Randy then
joined Sammy, holding a pistol and a rifle. Weaver asked Kittel if he
was a US Marshal and directed Kittel's girlfriend to get out of the
truck. Weaver told Kittel that he did not believe that Kittel had
bought property and told him to come back with proof. The next day
Kittel returned with some paperwork, which he showed to Vicki Weaver.
The Weavers then allowed Kittel to proceed to his property without
further problems.
On October 9, 1991, Deputy Marshal Mays interviewed Alan Jeppeson, who
had been observed bringing supplies and mail to the Weaver cabin. Mays
asked Jeppeson to convey another negotiation offer to the Weavers. A
series of exchanges followed in an attempt to negotiate a surrender.
On October 12, 1991, Jeppeson gave Mays a letter from the Weavers
which stated:
The U.S. Government lied to me - why should I believe anything its
servants have to say. ... This situation was set up by a lying
government informant whom your lawless courts will honor. Your lawless
One World Beast courts are doomed. I have appealed to Yahweh's court
of Supreme Justice. We will stay here separated from you & your
lawless evil in obedience to Yahshua the Messiah.
Jeppeson told Hunt that Weaver did not want to be tried in Idaho "due
to prejudice against those who believed in separation of the white
race." According to Jeppeson, Weaver might surrender, if the trial
could be moved, and if Jeppeson could remain with Weaver until he was
released or sentenced.
Due to the responses, the Marshals Service began to formulate a
surrender offer. This offer included promises that: the government
would not interfere with Vicki Weaver's custody of her children; the
Marshals Service would not harass Randy Weaver's family; and the
Government would not move to forfeit Randy Weaver's property.
The following day, Jeppeson delivered a letter from Vicki Weaver,
addressed to Mays and Hunt, that posed a number of questions,
including why a government informant or agent cannot be cross-examined
by a defense attorney and why the U.S. District Judge in Coeur D'Alene
told the Weavers that if they lost their case they would lose the
$10,000 bond to pay the attorney, as well as alleging that there was a
conspiracy to imprison all former Green Berets.
When he delivered this letter to the US Marshals, Jeppeson told them
that he thought that Weaver would agree to meet Hunt.
On October 16, 1991, Evans and Hunt gave Jeppeson a letter to give to
Randy Weaver that responded to the questions Vicki Weaver had raised.
Later that same day, Jeppeson gave Hunt a brief response signed by
Vicki Weaver, which declared "[t]here is nothing to discuss. [Randy]
doesn't have to prove he is innocent. Nor refute your slander."
In October, a surrender letter was drafted for the Weavers. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Howen rejected the proposal on October 15, 1991 and
explained in a subsequent letter that all communication must go
through the court-appointed attorney, not directly to Weaver, and
possibly a plea agreement could be arranged after arrest, but a mere
surrendering would not invoke the same terms. The surrender letter was
never sent.
There was very little activity by the marshals on the Weaver matter
through the winter months because the property was snowed in, and
surveillance was not practical. However, they continued to receive
information about who was visiting the Weaver property.
[edit] Preparation for an assault
On March 1, 1992, The Spokesman-Review, a newspaper in nearby Spokane,
Washington, reported that Weaver's children were armed and quoted area
residents who predicted violence if law enforcement agents attempted
to apprehend Weaver. Allan Jeppeson was quoted as saying, "They'll
lose their lives if they go up there and threaten Weaver" and "he
don't want nobody on his mountain."
On March 4, 1992, Marshals Cluff and Evans decided to drive up the
mountain road leading to the Weaver cabin. They were in plainclothes
and rode in an unmarked four-wheel drive vehicle. As they proceeded up
the mountain road, the marshals found that vehicle noise on the
unmaintained road was clearly audible for great distances. Cluff and
Evans then saw Randy Weaver, armed with a rifle, and a boy and a girl
standing above them on a rock formation. The boy also had a rifle. A
yellow dog ran up to the vehicle, barking. When Weaver told them they
were trespassing, they responded that they were interested in buying
property. Weaver told them to return with a realtor. The marshals
left. Evans determined that additional reconnaissance was necessary.
He had learned of previously unknown trails to the Weaver property and
believed it was necessary to explore them.
On March 27, 1992, Deputy Director Stagg of the SOG of the Marshals
Service recommended against a tactical assault on the Weaver compound
and his recommendation that the indictment be dismissed and then
refiled later under seal, so Weaver would be unaware of the new
indictment. This was in hope that it would cause Weaver to drop his
guard. At the meeting, Haynes and Stagg presented a plan for an
assault on the Weaver compound, but recommended against taking such
action. Hudson agreed that a tactical approach did not appear viable
because of their concern for the safety of Vicki Weaver and her
children.
The Weaver case was transferred to the Enforcement Division and was
given the name "Operation Northern Exposure." The primary
responsibility for developing a plan was given to Deputy Marshal
Arthur Roderick, Branch Chief of the Enforcement Division. Hidden
cameras were installed throughout the Weaver property. Although final
approval was needed from Acting Director Hudson, Roderick was given
permission by Jim Roach, Deputy Director for Operations, in late May
1992, to begin preparations for an undercover operation to arrest
Randy Weaver. Roderick chose Deputy Marshal Mark Jurgensen of the
Seattle office for the undercover role. Roderick, Jurgensen, and Hunt
started assembling documents necessary to carry out the operation.
Roderick was instructed not to put the undercover plan into effect
while Acting Director Hudson's confirmation was pending before the
U.S. Senate. In early August 1992, Hudson was confirmed Director of
the Marshals Service and gave verbal approval of the undercover
operation shortly thereafter. There had been no surveillance of the
Weaver property since May, so Roderick thought it necessary for a team
to visit the site and update their information.
[edit] The confrontation and massacre
On August 21, 1992, several US Marshals were sent to prepare for the
raid on the Weaver cabin. Since Randy Weaver was a former Green Beret
and it was believed the Weaver family were fully prepared to fight, an
initial armed reconnaissance team was sent in to survey the location
and prepare for the military style assault. They spent most of the
night and early morning moving around the family property.
The group had strict orders that they were to avoid all contact with
the Weaver family. According to a Department of Justice report on the
incident, the Marshals were detected by the Weavers' dogs and began to
retreat. Randy Weaver, his 14-year-old son Sam and his house guest,
family friend Kevin Harris, left the house to investigate, all
carrying firearms. The Department of Justice report corroborates this
with a statement dictated by Randy Weaver to his daughter, in which he
says that "Approximately 11:30 Friday morning....the dogs started
barking like they always do when strangers walk up the driveway.
Randy, Kevin, and Sam ran out to the rock with their weapons." The dog
chased the Marshals through the woods, and Sam and Harris followed the
dog. Eventually the Marshals stopped retreating and took up defensive
positions in the woods.
The sequence of events during the ensuing shootout is disputed, with
Harris saying that the camouflaged Marshals did not identify
themselves and were the first to fire at Sam's dog, which was
approaching their position with Sam close behind him. Sam then fired
at the person who had shot the dog. The Marshals' version of events is
that they were fired upon first and only then returned fire.
Sam, according to Harris, then yelled "You shot Striker, you son of a
bitch!", and fired twice at Marshal Roderick, the leader of the
Special Operations Group. One or more Marshals returned fire, shooting
Sam in the arm and then in the back, killing him, as he ran back up
the hill. Harris then shot and killed Marshal William Degan, and
retreated up the hill himself where he found Sam.
The next day, FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shot and wounded Weaver in the
right arm, while he had been lifting the latch on the shed to visit
the dead body of Sam Weaver with others. Then as Randy, Sara and
Harris ran back to the house, Horiuchi fired again at Harris, but
instead struck Vicki Weaver in the head. The round then carried on,
striking Harris in the left arm/chest. Vicki Weaver was holding her 10
month old baby Elishiba in her arms when she was killed. The next day,
an armored personnel carrier came to the cabin and announced the
presence of law enforcement. According to the Weavers, this was the
first formal announcement of the presence of law enforcement.
After the first day's events, the FBI had changed the rules of
engagement, specifically that "deadly force could be used against any
armed adult male if the shot could be taken without a child being
injured."[5]
A stand-off ensued for ten days as several hundred federal agents
surrounded the house, in which Weaver and his three surviving children
remained with Harris and the dead body of Vicki Weaver. The area was
surrounded by protesters angered by what they perceived as the heavy-
handed nature of the authorities' actions. James "Bo" Gritz, then a
third-party presidential candidate who had formerly been Weaver's
commanding officer during his time in the Army served as a mediator
between Weaver and the government. Eventually, Weaver elected to
abandon the stand-off and trust his case to the judicial system.
[edit] Aftermath
Randy and Sara Weaver's book about the incidentAt his trial in 1993,
which occurred during the federal siege of the Branch Davidians at
Waco, Texas, Weaver faced an array of charges, including the original
weapons violations as well as murder. He was represented by noted
trial lawyer Gerry Spence. Spence successfully argued that Weaver
acted in self-defense during the raid and was the victim of entrapment
with respect to the weapons charge, winning Weaver's acquittal on all
charges except missing his original court date and violation of his
bail conditions, for which he was sentenced to 18 months and fined
$10,000. He was credited with time served and spent an additional 4
months in prison. Harris was acquitted of all charges. The presiding
judge severely criticized the prosecution for its late disclosure of
evidence; specifically evidence that related to Horiuchi.
The US Senate in September 1995 held hearings on the Ruby Ridge
incident and, in December, released a report detailing the handling of
the incident. Because the Marshals Service had no option but to pursue
Weaver's arrest and because that arrest posed possible injury to law
enforcement and to the Weavers, it was incumbent on other law
enforcement agencies and the court to assist the Marshals Service in
resolving the impasse. The Marshals Service received little practical
assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office which also hindered
communications with the court.
The surviving members of the Weaver family filed a wrongful death suit
and Randy Weaver received a $100,000 settlement while his daughters
received $1,000,000 each. Weaver wrote a 1998 paperback book, The
Federal Siege At Ruby Ridge, about the incident.
In 1997, the Boundary County, Idaho district attorney charged Horiuchi
with involuntary manslaughter, but the indictment was removed to
federal jurisdiction based on the Supremacy Clause. The indictment was
dismissed first by the Federal District Court, but the dismissal was
reversed by an en banc panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Shortly after the 9th Circuit issued its decision, however, the
prosecutor moved to dismiss the case, and the U.S. District Court
granted the motion on June 26, 2001.
[edit] Cultural references
Chicago rock band Shred Eagle wrote a song about the Ruby Ridge
tragedy entitled 13" & 12 3/4" that appears on the band's 2006 album
Axis of Eagle.[1]
Punk band Propagandhi mentioned Ruby Ridge and Weaver in the song
"Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes" on the album of the same name in
2001.
Bluegrass artist Peter Rowan wrote a song about this incident for his
1996 album Bluegrass Boy, titled "Ruby Ridge".
Punk/metal band Lard mentioned Randy Weaver and Ruby Ridge in their
song "Peeling Back the Foreskin of Liberty".
Independent singer/songwriter McQueen mentioned Ruby Ridge in his song
"The Man".
Jackson Browne, a Pop/Rock artist, mentioned Ruby Ridge in his song
"Casino Nation".
Independent singer/songwriter Frank Delaney, present at the Ruby Ridge
conflict in 1992, wrote the song, "Up on Ruby Ridge", criticizing the
government for its actions.[2]
CBS broadcast the television movie "Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy",
starring Randy Quaid and Laura Dern May 19, 1996.
In the 1997 movie Playing God, David Duchovny's character criticizes
FBI agents with the line; "I loved your work at Ruby Ridge."
In the 1999 movie Arlington Road, Jeff Bridges plays the widower of an
FBI agent killed during a botched raid which bears strong resemblance
to the Ruby Ridge incident. The film also addresses issues of domestic
terrorism similar to the Oklahoma City bombings.
There is a Belgian stoner rock band called Ruby Ridge.
In an episode of My Name Is Earl titled "Our "Cops" Is On", Joy tells
the police "If y'all don't leave me alone I'm gonna go all Ruby Ridge
on ya!"
Pennsylvania rock band Live referenced Ruby Ridge in their song "****
Towne". The first line of the song goes "The Weavers live up the
street from me..."
[edit] See also
Christopher Curran, sniper at the siege
Charles Whitman, The Texas Sniper
[edit] Suggested reading
Alan Bock. Ambush at Ruby Ridge: How Government Agents Set Randy
Weaver Up and Took His Family Down. ISBN 1-880741-48-2.
Jess Walter. Ruby Ridge: The Truth and Tragedy of the Randy Weaver
Family, The Spokesman-Review received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for
his coverage of the story. ISBN 0-06-000794-X.
Jon Ronson (2002). Them: Adventures with Extremists. ISBN
0-7432-3321-2.
Randy Weaver. The Federal Siege At Ruby Ridge: In Our Own Words. ISBN
0-9664334-0-8.
Christopher Whitcomb. Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team.
ISBN 0-552-14788-5.
Danny O. Coulson & Elaine Shannon. No Heroes: Inside the FBI's Secret
Counter-Terror Force. ISBN 0-671-02062-5
[edit] References
^ David Lohr Randy Weaver: Siege at Ruby Ridge, Chapter 2: A Budding
Romance, 2007 Courtroom Television Network
^ David Lohr Randy Weaver: Siege at Ruby Ridge, Chapter 7: Hoodwinked,
2007 Courtroom Television Network
^ Jon Ronson The Legend of Ruby Ridge, Episode 1 from the series
Secret Rulers of the World, 2001
^ United States Department of Justice Report Regarding Internal
Investigation of Shootings at Ruby Ridge, Idaho During Arrest of Randy
Weaver, Section IV, pgs 21-35
^ U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit STATE OF IDAHO V
HORIUCHI, Case Number 98-30149, 6-14-2000, pg. 6265
[edit] External links
Idaho v. Horiuchi (Case Number: 98-30149)
Court television history
Excerpts from From Freedom to Slavery, by Gerry Spence (Randy Weaver's
defense attorney)
Department Of Justice report
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Ridge"
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 | All
articles with unsourced statements | 1992 in the United States | Gun
politics | Law enforcement in the United States | Nonwar armed
confrontations
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>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ruby Ridge refers to a violent confrontation and siege involving white
separatist Randy Weaver, his family, and Weaver's friend Kevin Harris,
and federal agents from the United States Marshals Service and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. The events took place in late August
1992 on the Weaver family property, located on a hillside between
Caribou Ridge and Ruby Creek near Naples in northern Idaho.
In the months leading up to the incident, Weaver had failed to appear
in court to answer charges relating to possession of an illegally
shortened sawed-off shotgun, and the U.S. Marshals Service was
directed to serve a warrant for his arrest. During this period Weaver
isolated himself on his property, became increasingly suspicious of
the federal government, and refused to surrender peacefully. Following
extended surveillance of the property in preparation for an arrest, on
August 21, 1992 several well-armed U.S. Marshals clandestinely
surveying the property were detected by "Striker", a pet dog owned by
Weaver's 14-year-old son Samuel Weaver. Weaver, Harris and Samuel
armed themselves, went to investigate, and the resulting confrontation
with the agents resulted in the death of Samuel, his pet dog, and US
Marshal William Degan. Two days later Lon Horiuchi, an FBI
sharpshooter, fatally shot Vicki Weaver, and injured Weaver and
Harris. The government spent $1 million per day for the 10 days of the
siege.[citation needed] The stand-off was resolved with a truce
arrangement, following which Weaver and Harris were arrested.
Contents [hide]
1 Family background and affiliations
2 Entrapment and first arrest
3 Initial surveillance and other events
4 Preparation for an assault
5 The confrontation and massacre
6 Aftermath
7 Cultural references
8 See also
9 Suggested reading
10 References
11 External links
[edit] Family background and affiliations
Randy and Vicki Weaver lived in Idaho during the mid-to-late 1980s.
Randy had served in the United States Army Special Forces at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina during the Vietnam War, eventually being
promoted to the rank of sergeant, while Vicki had worked for the
United Way. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling Amway products,
the Weavers got back on their feet and began to live a somewhat normal
American life. After the onset of the Yom Kippur War and the oil-
related issues that followed, the Weavers became disillusioned with
their church for not reacting properly to what they saw as Apocalyptic
happenings. The Weavers began researching the lifestyle of the Amish
and other self-sufficiency methodologies.[1]
In 1978, Vicki allegedly began having visions of a mountain-top home
where she and her family would be safely buffered from the end of the
world. Eventually this vision was solidified by Randy's teachings.
They spent $5,000 to purchase a 20-acre parcel in Idaho and began
raising their children in an environment away from what they believed
to be the "sinful world".
In July 1986, Randy attended the World Congress of Aryan Nations at
their headquarters near Hayden Lake. He attended at least three major
Aryan Nations functions during his time in Idaho, though he denied
being a member of the Aryan Nations church. Weaver has said, "I'm not
a white supremacist. I'm a white separatist. I was born white. I can't
help that. If I was black I'd probably be affiliated with Louis
Farrakhan's group, but as it is, I don't belong to anything. I don't
believe I'm superior to anyone, but I do believe I have the right to
be with my own kind of people if I choose to."[citation needed]
[edit] Entrapment and first arrest
Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had been
trying to infiltrate the group based at nearby Hayden Lake.
At the 1986 World Congress a biker named Gus Magisono befriended Randy
Weaver. In actuality, Magisono was undercover ATF informant Kenneth
Faderley. Gus asked Randy to sell him some sawed-off shotguns.
Initially, Randy refused, arguing that he could not afford to purchase
the shotguns, but Magisono persisted. Magisono eventually agreed to
provide the shotguns, along with instructions regarding the length he
wanted. Magisono then purchased the guns back from Weaver, ensuring
that Weaver had violated federal weapons laws. According to Magisono,
the guns were sawed off 3/8th inch shorter than the legal minimum.
Weaver denies cutting the barrels to below the legal length, insisting
that Magisono further shortened the barrels to below the minimum legal
overall length of 18 inches after purchase to create a violation.
The ATF confronted Weaver in June 1990, offering to dismiss the
weapons charges in exchange for Randy's infiltration and information
against the Aryan Nations. Randy refused, and subsequently notified
the local Aryan Nations members of the offer and his refusal.
In January 1991, Randy and Vicki stopped to assist a stranded
motorist. The motorist was actually a decoy used to provide the ATF an
opportunity to arrest Weaver for the gun charges. Weaver spent the
night in the county jail.
The next day, Randy was brought before United States federal judge
Stephen Ayers. During the hearing, Judge Ayers told Randy that he may
have to pay the government's court costs. A trial date was set. Weaver
put his house up in order to bond himself out of jail and ensure his
appearance at court. According to the documentary film Ruby Ridge --
Anatomy of a Tragedy, shown on the Discovery Times channel, Randy was
mistakenly told by a court official that it was possible that he could
lose his house if he was convicted of the gun charges.
Rather than seek a legal means to solve his problems, the Weaver
family mounted a letter-writing campaign against the FBI. In February
1991, Vicki mailed two angry letters to the U.S. Attorney's Office in
Boise. One was addressed to "The Queen of Babylon" and stated in part:
"A man cannot have two masters. Yahweh Yahshua Messiah, the anointed
One of Saxon Israel is our law giver and our King. We will obey Him
and no others ... a long forgotten wind is starting to blow. Do you
hear the approaching thunder? It is that of the awakened Saxon. War is
upon the land. The tyrants blood will flow."
The other letter, addressed to "Servant of the Queen of Babylon,
Maurice O. Ellsworth, U.S. Attny." read:
"Yah-Yahshua the Messiah of Saxon Israel is our Advocate and our
Judge. The stink of your lawless government has reached Heaven, the
abode of Yahweh our Yahshua. Whether we live or whether we die, we
will not bow to your evil commandments."
Weaver failed to appear for a court date on February 20, 1991, having
been informed that the set date was March 20 in the summons the
Weavers received. Judge Ryan declined to withdraw the warrant when he
learned that the Probation Office had sent Weaver a letter with an
incorrect trial date, and declared Weaver a federal fugitive and
issued an arrest warrant.[2]
In interviews videotaped after the standoff, the Weaver family stated
that the ATF was trying to humiliate Randy in order to make an example
of him. Upon learning he was officially classified a fugitive, Randy
extrapolated that the government's goal was to assassinate him. The
Weaver family confined themselves to their home, making few
appearances in town, always keeping rifles within reach. Randy Weaver
rarely went outdoors.[3]
[edit] Initial surveillance and other events
On March 18, 1991, Ronald Evans requested the assistance of the United
States Special Operations Group (SOG), a voluntary unit in the US
Marshals specifically trained to handle dangerous or complex matters
such as hostage situations involving fugitives. He added that many
days and nights of surveillance would be necessary to determine the
Weavers' daily routine and asked for SOG assistance in determining how
to arrest Weaver "while minimizing risk to all persons involved...
Ultimately, we must find a single weakness which will cause Randy
Weaver to leave the house if only momentarily."[4]
Due to increasing pressure to arrest Randy Weaver, the SOG was sent in
during June 1991 to conduct surveillance and lay plans for the arrest.
Dr. Walter F. Stenning, Ph.D., an outside psychologist brought in to
assess Randy Weaver, declared that Weaver's family was set in their
belief "that the end of the world is near and that his family must
fight the fences[sic] for evil that want to take over the world. I
believe his family may fight to the death."[citation needed]
Essentially, it was determined the property was strongly fortified to
repel assault and that the family was heavily armed. It was also
determined that if Randy Weaver were captured, the family would fight
to their deaths to free him, standing up to any military assault. The
optimal outcome would be to lure Randy Weaver out of the house and
serve the warrant.
On September 28, 1991, a seven-man SOG detail was dispatched to assist
in arresting Weaver. However, upon arrival the team concluded that
"the information upon which the SOG move order was issued was
inaccurate", and the plan to arrest Weaver was cancelled, because the
warrant could not be served without injury to themselves or others.
During this attempt, it was learned that Vicki Weaver was pregnant and
approaching her due date.
On July 9, 1991, Deputy U.S. Marshal Cluff and Everett Hofmeister,
Weaver's appointed counsel, told Rodney Willey, a Weaver associate,
that if Weaver surrendered, the failure to appear charge might be
dismissed. They also told Willey that the sentence on the weapons
offense would be minimal because Weaver did not have a criminal
record. On July 10, Willey informed Hofmeister that Weaver would not
surrender because "[his] rights [would] be violated."
In late September 1991, Hunt and Ely interviewed Beverly and Ed
Torrence, who owned land adjacent to the Weaver property. The
Torrences explained that they had encountered the Weavers a few days
earlier when they had gone up to view their property. At that time,
the Torrences drove near the Weaver house and stopped to ask about
some property markers. The Weaver dogs came to their car, followed by
Sammy Weaver, who called to the house. The Torrences then saw Randy
Weaver and Dennis looking down on them from a rock outcropping. Each
held a rifle or shotgun. Thereafter, the Torrences were invited into
the Weaver cabin where Randy and Vicki Weaver explained their
religious and political views. Weaver discussed the ATF arrest and
that he was expecting federal agents to come to his home, but that he
was not going to be arrested by anyone. According to Weaver, he and
his family would shoot federal law enforcement officials who came on
his property. "If they do take me, I'll take some with me", and that
is "why we have the guns." Beverly Torrence observed that Weaver
appeared vehement in his belief that he would rather fight than go
peaceably.
Sometime during Spring 1992, Buster Kittel went to the mountain to
survey property he had recently purchased. To reach his property, he
had to drive past the Weaver cabin. As he reached the Weaver driveway,
Kittel heard a shot from a small-caliber gun and saw Sammy Weaver
standing with a rifle above him, on a rock outcropping. Randy then
joined Sammy, holding a pistol and a rifle. Weaver asked Kittel if he
was a US Marshal and directed Kittel's girlfriend to get out of the
truck. Weaver told Kittel that he did not believe that Kittel had
bought property and told him to come back with proof. The next day
Kittel returned with some paperwork, which he showed to Vicki Weaver.
The Weavers then allowed Kittel to proceed to his property without
further problems.
On October 9, 1991, Deputy Marshal Mays interviewed Alan Jeppeson, who
had been observed bringing supplies and mail to the Weaver cabin. Mays
asked Jeppeson to convey another negotiation offer to the Weavers. A
series of exchanges followed in an attempt to negotiate a surrender.
On October 12, 1991, Jeppeson gave Mays a letter from the Weavers
which stated:
The U.S. Government lied to me - why should I believe anything its
servants have to say. ... This situation was set up by a lying
government informant whom your lawless courts will honor. Your lawless
One World Beast courts are doomed. I have appealed to Yahweh's court
of Supreme Justice. We will stay here separated from you & your
lawless evil in obedience to Yahshua the Messiah.
Jeppeson told Hunt that Weaver did not want to be tried in Idaho "due
to prejudice against those who believed in separation of the white
race." According to Jeppeson, Weaver might surrender, if the trial
could be moved, and if Jeppeson could remain with Weaver until he was
released or sentenced.
Due to the responses, the Marshals Service began to formulate a
surrender offer. This offer included promises that: the government
would not interfere with Vicki Weaver's custody of her children; the
Marshals Service would not harass Randy Weaver's family; and the
Government would not move to forfeit Randy Weaver's property.
The following day, Jeppeson delivered a letter from Vicki Weaver,
addressed to Mays and Hunt, that posed a number of questions,
including why a government informant or agent cannot be cross-examined
by a defense attorney and why the U.S. District Judge in Coeur D'Alene
told the Weavers that if they lost their case they would lose the
$10,000 bond to pay the attorney, as well as alleging that there was a
conspiracy to imprison all former Green Berets.
When he delivered this letter to the US Marshals, Jeppeson told them
that he thought that Weaver would agree to meet Hunt.
On October 16, 1991, Evans and Hunt gave Jeppeson a letter to give to
Randy Weaver that responded to the questions Vicki Weaver had raised.
Later that same day, Jeppeson gave Hunt a brief response signed by
Vicki Weaver, which declared "[t]here is nothing to discuss. [Randy]
doesn't have to prove he is innocent. Nor refute your slander."
In October, a surrender letter was drafted for the Weavers. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Howen rejected the proposal on October 15, 1991 and
explained in a subsequent letter that all communication must go
through the court-appointed attorney, not directly to Weaver, and
possibly a plea agreement could be arranged after arrest, but a mere
surrendering would not invoke the same terms. The surrender letter was
never sent.
There was very little activity by the marshals on the Weaver matter
through the winter months because the property was snowed in, and
surveillance was not practical. However, they continued to receive
information about who was visiting the Weaver property.
[edit] Preparation for an assault
On March 1, 1992, The Spokesman-Review, a newspaper in nearby Spokane,
Washington, reported that Weaver's children were armed and quoted area
residents who predicted violence if law enforcement agents attempted
to apprehend Weaver. Allan Jeppeson was quoted as saying, "They'll
lose their lives if they go up there and threaten Weaver" and "he
don't want nobody on his mountain."
On March 4, 1992, Marshals Cluff and Evans decided to drive up the
mountain road leading to the Weaver cabin. They were in plainclothes
and rode in an unmarked four-wheel drive vehicle. As they proceeded up
the mountain road, the marshals found that vehicle noise on the
unmaintained road was clearly audible for great distances. Cluff and
Evans then saw Randy Weaver, armed with a rifle, and a boy and a girl
standing above them on a rock formation. The boy also had a rifle. A
yellow dog ran up to the vehicle, barking. When Weaver told them they
were trespassing, they responded that they were interested in buying
property. Weaver told them to return with a realtor. The marshals
left. Evans determined that additional reconnaissance was necessary.
He had learned of previously unknown trails to the Weaver property and
believed it was necessary to explore them.
On March 27, 1992, Deputy Director Stagg of the SOG of the Marshals
Service recommended against a tactical assault on the Weaver compound
and his recommendation that the indictment be dismissed and then
refiled later under seal, so Weaver would be unaware of the new
indictment. This was in hope that it would cause Weaver to drop his
guard. At the meeting, Haynes and Stagg presented a plan for an
assault on the Weaver compound, but recommended against taking such
action. Hudson agreed that a tactical approach did not appear viable
because of their concern for the safety of Vicki Weaver and her
children.
The Weaver case was transferred to the Enforcement Division and was
given the name "Operation Northern Exposure." The primary
responsibility for developing a plan was given to Deputy Marshal
Arthur Roderick, Branch Chief of the Enforcement Division. Hidden
cameras were installed throughout the Weaver property. Although final
approval was needed from Acting Director Hudson, Roderick was given
permission by Jim Roach, Deputy Director for Operations, in late May
1992, to begin preparations for an undercover operation to arrest
Randy Weaver. Roderick chose Deputy Marshal Mark Jurgensen of the
Seattle office for the undercover role. Roderick, Jurgensen, and Hunt
started assembling documents necessary to carry out the operation.
Roderick was instructed not to put the undercover plan into effect
while Acting Director Hudson's confirmation was pending before the
U.S. Senate. In early August 1992, Hudson was confirmed Director of
the Marshals Service and gave verbal approval of the undercover
operation shortly thereafter. There had been no surveillance of the
Weaver property since May, so Roderick thought it necessary for a team
to visit the site and update their information.
[edit] The confrontation and massacre
On August 21, 1992, several US Marshals were sent to prepare for the
raid on the Weaver cabin. Since Randy Weaver was a former Green Beret
and it was believed the Weaver family were fully prepared to fight, an
initial armed reconnaissance team was sent in to survey the location
and prepare for the military style assault. They spent most of the
night and early morning moving around the family property.
The group had strict orders that they were to avoid all contact with
the Weaver family. According to a Department of Justice report on the
incident, the Marshals were detected by the Weavers' dogs and began to
retreat. Randy Weaver, his 14-year-old son Sam and his house guest,
family friend Kevin Harris, left the house to investigate, all
carrying firearms. The Department of Justice report corroborates this
with a statement dictated by Randy Weaver to his daughter, in which he
says that "Approximately 11:30 Friday morning....the dogs started
barking like they always do when strangers walk up the driveway.
Randy, Kevin, and Sam ran out to the rock with their weapons." The dog
chased the Marshals through the woods, and Sam and Harris followed the
dog. Eventually the Marshals stopped retreating and took up defensive
positions in the woods.
The sequence of events during the ensuing shootout is disputed, with
Harris saying that the camouflaged Marshals did not identify
themselves and were the first to fire at Sam's dog, which was
approaching their position with Sam close behind him. Sam then fired
at the person who had shot the dog. The Marshals' version of events is
that they were fired upon first and only then returned fire.
Sam, according to Harris, then yelled "You shot Striker, you son of a
bitch!", and fired twice at Marshal Roderick, the leader of the
Special Operations Group. One or more Marshals returned fire, shooting
Sam in the arm and then in the back, killing him, as he ran back up
the hill. Harris then shot and killed Marshal William Degan, and
retreated up the hill himself where he found Sam.
The next day, FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shot and wounded Weaver in the
right arm, while he had been lifting the latch on the shed to visit
the dead body of Sam Weaver with others. Then as Randy, Sara and
Harris ran back to the house, Horiuchi fired again at Harris, but
instead struck Vicki Weaver in the head. The round then carried on,
striking Harris in the left arm/chest. Vicki Weaver was holding her 10
month old baby Elishiba in her arms when she was killed. The next day,
an armored personnel carrier came to the cabin and announced the
presence of law enforcement. According to the Weavers, this was the
first formal announcement of the presence of law enforcement.
After the first day's events, the FBI had changed the rules of
engagement, specifically that "deadly force could be used against any
armed adult male if the shot could be taken without a child being
injured."[5]
A stand-off ensued for ten days as several hundred federal agents
surrounded the house, in which Weaver and his three surviving children
remained with Harris and the dead body of Vicki Weaver. The area was
surrounded by protesters angered by what they perceived as the heavy-
handed nature of the authorities' actions. James "Bo" Gritz, then a
third-party presidential candidate who had formerly been Weaver's
commanding officer during his time in the Army served as a mediator
between Weaver and the government. Eventually, Weaver elected to
abandon the stand-off and trust his case to the judicial system.
[edit] Aftermath
Randy and Sara Weaver's book about the incidentAt his trial in 1993,
which occurred during the federal siege of the Branch Davidians at
Waco, Texas, Weaver faced an array of charges, including the original
weapons violations as well as murder. He was represented by noted
trial lawyer Gerry Spence. Spence successfully argued that Weaver
acted in self-defense during the raid and was the victim of entrapment
with respect to the weapons charge, winning Weaver's acquittal on all
charges except missing his original court date and violation of his
bail conditions, for which he was sentenced to 18 months and fined
$10,000. He was credited with time served and spent an additional 4
months in prison. Harris was acquitted of all charges. The presiding
judge severely criticized the prosecution for its late disclosure of
evidence; specifically evidence that related to Horiuchi.
The US Senate in September 1995 held hearings on the Ruby Ridge
incident and, in December, released a report detailing the handling of
the incident. Because the Marshals Service had no option but to pursue
Weaver's arrest and because that arrest posed possible injury to law
enforcement and to the Weavers, it was incumbent on other law
enforcement agencies and the court to assist the Marshals Service in
resolving the impasse. The Marshals Service received little practical
assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office which also hindered
communications with the court.
The surviving members of the Weaver family filed a wrongful death suit
and Randy Weaver received a $100,000 settlement while his daughters
received $1,000,000 each. Weaver wrote a 1998 paperback book, The
Federal Siege At Ruby Ridge, about the incident.
In 1997, the Boundary County, Idaho district attorney charged Horiuchi
with involuntary manslaughter, but the indictment was removed to
federal jurisdiction based on the Supremacy Clause. The indictment was
dismissed first by the Federal District Court, but the dismissal was
reversed by an en banc panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Shortly after the 9th Circuit issued its decision, however, the
prosecutor moved to dismiss the case, and the U.S. District Court
granted the motion on June 26, 2001.
[edit] Cultural references
Chicago rock band Shred Eagle wrote a song about the Ruby Ridge
tragedy entitled 13" & 12 3/4" that appears on the band's 2006 album
Axis of Eagle.[1]
Punk band Propagandhi mentioned Ruby Ridge and Weaver in the song
"Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes" on the album of the same name in
2001.
Bluegrass artist Peter Rowan wrote a song about this incident for his
1996 album Bluegrass Boy, titled "Ruby Ridge".
Punk/metal band Lard mentioned Randy Weaver and Ruby Ridge in their
song "Peeling Back the Foreskin of Liberty".
Independent singer/songwriter McQueen mentioned Ruby Ridge in his song
"The Man".
Jackson Browne, a Pop/Rock artist, mentioned Ruby Ridge in his song
"Casino Nation".
Independent singer/songwriter Frank Delaney, present at the Ruby Ridge
conflict in 1992, wrote the song, "Up on Ruby Ridge", criticizing the
government for its actions.[2]
CBS broadcast the television movie "Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy",
starring Randy Quaid and Laura Dern May 19, 1996.
In the 1997 movie Playing God, David Duchovny's character criticizes
FBI agents with the line; "I loved your work at Ruby Ridge."
In the 1999 movie Arlington Road, Jeff Bridges plays the widower of an
FBI agent killed during a botched raid which bears strong resemblance
to the Ruby Ridge incident. The film also addresses issues of domestic
terrorism similar to the Oklahoma City bombings.
There is a Belgian stoner rock band called Ruby Ridge.
In an episode of My Name Is Earl titled "Our "Cops" Is On", Joy tells
the police "If y'all don't leave me alone I'm gonna go all Ruby Ridge
on ya!"
Pennsylvania rock band Live referenced Ruby Ridge in their song "****
Towne". The first line of the song goes "The Weavers live up the
street from me..."
[edit] See also
Christopher Curran, sniper at the siege
Charles Whitman, The Texas Sniper
[edit] Suggested reading
Alan Bock. Ambush at Ruby Ridge: How Government Agents Set Randy
Weaver Up and Took His Family Down. ISBN 1-880741-48-2.
Jess Walter. Ruby Ridge: The Truth and Tragedy of the Randy Weaver
Family, The Spokesman-Review received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for
his coverage of the story. ISBN 0-06-000794-X.
Jon Ronson (2002). Them: Adventures with Extremists. ISBN
0-7432-3321-2.
Randy Weaver. The Federal Siege At Ruby Ridge: In Our Own Words. ISBN
0-9664334-0-8.
Christopher Whitcomb. Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team.
ISBN 0-552-14788-5.
Danny O. Coulson & Elaine Shannon. No Heroes: Inside the FBI's Secret
Counter-Terror Force. ISBN 0-671-02062-5
[edit] References
^ David Lohr Randy Weaver: Siege at Ruby Ridge, Chapter 2: A Budding
Romance, 2007 Courtroom Television Network
^ David Lohr Randy Weaver: Siege at Ruby Ridge, Chapter 7: Hoodwinked,
2007 Courtroom Television Network
^ Jon Ronson The Legend of Ruby Ridge, Episode 1 from the series
Secret Rulers of the World, 2001
^ United States Department of Justice Report Regarding Internal
Investigation of Shootings at Ruby Ridge, Idaho During Arrest of Randy
Weaver, Section IV, pgs 21-35
^ U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit STATE OF IDAHO V
HORIUCHI, Case Number 98-30149, 6-14-2000, pg. 6265
[edit] External links
Idaho v. Horiuchi (Case Number: 98-30149)
Court television history
Excerpts from From Freedom to Slavery, by Gerry Spence (Randy Weaver's
defense attorney)
Department Of Justice report
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Ridge"
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 | All
articles with unsourced statements | 1992 in the United States | Gun
politics | Law enforcement in the United States | Nonwar armed
confrontations
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