Oklahoma City Bombing (1995)
April 19, 1996 - anti government militant Timothy McVeigh and his co-conspirator Terry Nichols planted diesel-fuel-fertilizer bomb explosives in a rental truck right next to the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building. The building’s north wall was demolished, and later the building was decimated for safety reasons. Now there is a memorial in memory of the attack and the lives lost.
Results after 2 week rescue mission:
The Bomber and His Conspirators:
Timothy McVeigh:
Results after 2 week rescue mission:
- 168 people killed
- more than 680 people injured
The Bomber and His Conspirators:
Timothy McVeigh:
- former U.S. Army soldier
- raised in western New York
- very invested and interested in guns and survival skills
- befriended Terry Nichols in army
- 1991 - served in Persian Gulf War
- failed to qualify for Special Forces Program
- opted for early discharge from the army
- became suspicious of the U.S. government instead of foreign countries
- Bill Clinton’s views on gun control added to his hatred
- the Randy Weaver shootout and the Branch Davidian Fire proved to McVeigh and his accomplices that their own government was the problem
- McVeigh’s attack was planned at the Murrah Building because federal agencies (DEA, ATF, Secret Service) resided there
- he was already in jail after the bombing due to the charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm
- he was pulled over for a traffic violation as well
- surrendered same day of bombing
- shared same interests as McVeigh
- knew of plan McVeigh had to bomb the building
- testified against McVeigh in exchange for a reduced sentence
Sentencing:
June 2, 1997 - McVeigh convicted on all 11 charges brought upon him
August 4, 1997 - death penalty formally imposed on McVeigh
The next year - Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison because he didn’t come forth with his knowledge of the plan
December 1997 - Nichols was found guilty one count of conspiracy and eight counts of involuntary manslaughter
2004 - Nichols convicted of 161 counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to prison for life
June 11, 2001 - McVeigh died by lethal injection
June 2, 1997 - McVeigh convicted on all 11 charges brought upon him
August 4, 1997 - death penalty formally imposed on McVeigh
The next year - Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison because he didn’t come forth with his knowledge of the plan
December 1997 - Nichols was found guilty one count of conspiracy and eight counts of involuntary manslaughter
2004 - Nichols convicted of 161 counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to prison for life
June 11, 2001 - McVeigh died by lethal injection