‘It was the wrong choice’: Retired ATF agents question commander’s decision to raid Mt. Carmel; adamant Branch Davidians fired first

kwtx ^ | Feb. 28, 2023 | Gordon Collier

[PROCON]

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - On Feb. 28, 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabaco and Firearms launched a raid at the Branch Davidian compound near the community of Elk, about 13 miles outside Waco.

They were attempting to serve a search and arrest warrant for the leader of the religious sect, David Koresh, for illegally stockpiling weapons.

During the ensuing gun battle, four ATF agents and six members of the Branch Davidians were killed.

The shootout led to a 51-day standoff that ended with the compound burning to the ground, claiming the lives of 76 Branch Davidians, including Koresh.

Robert White and Blake Boteler, two retired ATF agents who were there the day the standoff began, sat down with KWTX for an interview, eager to tell their side of the story after so many years of silence.

“As we stepped off the trailer it was a wall of lead,” said White, recalling his fellow agents knew the raid was a mistake as soon as the now famous horse trailers came to a stop outside the compound.

“We played into Koresh’s hand,” said White, “He said, ‘they’re gonna come for us,’ and that’s what happened.”

The deadly confrontation outside the Davidian compound was the biggest shootout in law enforcement history.

[M Kehoe]

Lon Haruchi

5.56mm

[Reily]

Local ATF management wanted to do the raid because they needed to justify their SWAT team budget.

[Seruzawa]

I have seen it. But I dont know where to find it. I’m satisfied with what I saw. Wish I could help on that