Anonymous Host

In October 1990, a grand jury indicted Randy for possession of illegal weapons.

He was granted bail, but failed to appear in court for his scheduled trial date.

It was said that Randy possessed multiple firearms and arresting him at his own residence was therefore deemed too dangerous.

This led to the US Marshals attempting to arrange for Randy to surrender himself peacefully.

After four months of failed negotiations, on Friday August 21 1992, the US Marshals descended on the Weaver property under cover of darkness in a planned raid that resulted in 14-year-old Samuel Weaver, a US Marshal named William Bill Deegan, and the Weaver's dog being killed.

In the Marshal's version of events, Randy Weaver had been with Samuel, Kevin, and Stryker as they approached the brush.

They claimed that when Stryker exposed their locations, they shouted to identify themselves, which led to Kevin Harris firing at them and initiating the confrontation.

Deputy US Marshal Deegan, who Kevin had mortally wounded, fired seven rounds back while another Marshal shot Stryker, scared the dog would attack.

It was then that Samuel Weaver started firing.

Ballistics reports indicated that Samuel was killed by Deputy US Marshal Larry Cooper, though these reports weren't conclusive.

Cooper denied shooting Samuel, saying he hit Kevin Harris instead, though there was no evidence that Kevin was struck at all.

The FBI later stated that they hadn't realised Samuel Weaver was dead until days after the shootout.

The altercation led to a standoff between law enforcement and the Weaver family.

While the Weavers barricaded themselves in their home, the Marshals radioed for reinforcements.

State police, ATF agents, an FBI hostage rescue team, and FBI snipers took up locations around the property.

Given the drastic situation with two people already dead, one of those a member of federal law enforcement, and a family said to be armed and dangerous, the FBI amended its usual rules of engagement.

Ordinarily, an FBI agent can only fire against someone if they or other agents are in danger of bodily harm or death.

At Ruby Ridge, agents would be permitted to fire at any adult male holding a weapon as long as the shot could be taken without endangering children.

In the wake of the initial shootout, members of the Weaver family had managed to collect Samuel's body from where it lay dead on the ground and moved him to a shed.

On Saturday August 22, they made plans to bury him.