Editing Jonestown (section)

==Leo Ryan visit==
===Initial investigation===
[[File:Leo Ryan.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Congressman [[Leo Ryan]]]]
Leo Ryan, who represented [[California's 11th congressional district]], was friends with the father of Bob Houston, a Temple member in California whose mutilated body was found near train tracks on October 5, 1976, three days after a taped telephone conversation with Houston's ex-wife in which leaving the Temple was discussed.<ref>Moore, Rebecca. [http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=16581 ''American as Cherry Pie''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029130010/http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=16581 |date=October 29, 2014}}, Jonestown Institute, San Diego State University</ref><ref name="reiterman299457">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=299–300, 457–458}}</ref> Over the following months, Ryan's interest was further aroused by the allegations put forth by Stoen, Layton and the Concerned Relatives.<ref name="reiterman299457"/>

On November 14, 1978, Ryan flew to Georgetown, along with a delegation<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=481}}</ref> that included:
* [[Jackie Speier]], Ryan's then-legal adviser;
* Neville Annibourne, representing Guyana's Ministry of Information;
* Richard Dwyer, [[Deputy Chief of Mission]] of the U.S. embassy to Guyana;
* Tim Reiterman, ''San Francisco Examiner'' reporter;
* Greg Robinson, ''Examiner'' photographer;
* [[Don Harris (journalist)|Don Harris]], [[NBC]] reporter;
* Bob Brown, NBC camera operator;
* Steve Sung, NBC audio technician;
* Bob Flick, NBC producer;
* Charles Krause, ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' reporter;
* Ron Javers, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reporter;

and Concerned Relatives representatives, including:
* Tim and Grace Stoen,
* Steve and Anthony Katsaris,
* Beverly Oliver,
* Jim Cobb,
* Sherwin Harris, and
* Carol Houston Boyd.

===Visits to Jonestown===
====November 17, 1978====
[[File:Jonestown Guyana Airways plane 1.jpg|thumb|Photo of the DHC-6 Twin Otter before attack.]]
When the Ryan delegation arrived in Guyana, Jones' attorneys Lane and Garry initially refused to allow them access to Jonestown.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=484–485}}</ref> However, by the morning of November 17, they informed Jones that Ryan would likely leave for Jonestown that afternoon regardless of his willingness.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=485}}</ref> Ryan's party, accompanied by Lane and Garry, came to an airstrip at [[Port Kaituma]], six miles (10&nbsp;km) from Jonestown, some hours later.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=487}}</ref> Because of lack of room on the plane, only four of the Concerned Relatives – Anthony Katsaris, Beverly Oliver, Jim Cobb and Carol Boyd – accompanied Ryan, Speier and the journalists to Port Kaituma and ultimately to Jonestown. It was felt that the presence of the Stoens would unnecessarily antagonize Jones, and Harris wanted to remain in Georgetown because he hoped to spend time with his daughter Liane, who was staying at the Temple's headquarters there.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=476–480}}</ref>

Only Ryan, Speier, Lane and Garry were initially accepted into Jonestown, while the rest of Ryan's party was allowed in after sunset.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=488–490}}</ref> That night, they attended a musical reception in the pavilion.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=491}}</ref> While the party was received warmly, Jones said he felt like a dying man and ranted about government conspiracies and [[martyrdom]] as he decried attacks by the press and his enemies.<ref name="reitermantimes"/> It was later reported – and verified by audio tapes recovered by investigators – that Jones had run rehearsals on how to convince Ryan's delegation that everyone was happy and in good spirits.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=270}}</ref>

Two Temple members, Vernon Gosney and Monica Bagby, made the first move for defection that night. In the pavilion, Gosney mistook NBC reporter Don Harris for Ryan and passed him a note, reading, "Dear Congressman, Vernon Gosney and Monica Bagby. Please help us get out of Jonestown."<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=271}}</ref> A child nearby witnessed Gosney's act and verbally alerted other Temple members.<ref>Vernon Gosney interview, ''Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple'' (2006)</ref> Harris brought two notes, one of the Gosney's, to Ryan and Speier. According to Speier in 2006, reading the notes caused her and the congressman to realize that "something was very, very wrong."<ref>Jackie Speier interview, ''Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple'' (2006)</ref>

Ryan, Speier, Dwyer and Annibourne stayed the night in Jonestown while other members of their party, including the press corps and members of Concerned Relatives, were told that they had to find other accommodations. They went back to Port Kaituma and stayed at a small café.<ref name="raven498">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=489–499}}</ref>

====November 18, 1978====
In the early morning of November 18, eleven Temple members sensed danger enough to walk out of Jonestown and all the way to the town of [[Matthew's Ridge]], in the opposite direction from the Port Kaituma airstrip.<ref name="cnnsurvivor">[http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/12/jonestown.survivors/index.html?iref=newssearch ' Survivors of the Tragedy'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105170703/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/12/jonestown.survivors/index.html?iref=newssearch|date=5 November 2012}}, CNN</ref><ref name="cnnslavery">[http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/11/12/jonestown.wilson.excerpt/index.html?iref=newssearch 'Slavery of Faith': Survivor recounts escape from Jonestown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210102703/http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/11/12/jonestown.wilson.excerpt/index.html?iref=newssearch |date=December 10, 2008}}, Leslie Wilson, CNN reprint of excerpt</ref> Those defectors included the wife and son of Joe Wilson, Jonestown's head of security.<ref name="cnnsurvivor"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Knapp |first=Don |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9811/19/jonestown.anniversary.01 |title=Jonestown massacre memories linger amid rumors of CIA link|publisher=CNN|date=19 November 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010608055211/http://www.cnn.com/US/9811/19/jonestown.anniversary.01/ |archive-date=June 8, 2001}}</ref><ref>[http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=31941 ''Obituary announcement of Julius Evans (references his escape with family)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205012808/http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=31941|date=5 February 2015}}, Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=272}}</ref> When journalists and members of the Concerned Relatives arrived in Jonestown later that day, Jones' wife Marceline gave them a tour of the settlement.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=505}}</ref>

That afternoon, the Parks and the Bogue families, along with Christopher O'Neal (who was the boyfriend of one of the Parks' daughters) and Harold Cordell (who was living with Mrs. Bogue), stepped forward and asked to be escorted out of Jonestown by the Ryan delegation.<ref name="cnnsurvivor"/><ref name="raven512">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=512}}</ref><ref>Stephenson, Denice. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YrEUGmFQs-0C ''Dear People: Remembering Jonestown''.] Heyday Books, 2005. {{ISBN|1597140023}}.</ref> When Jones' adopted son Johnny attempted to talk Jerry Parks out of leaving, Parks told him, "No way, it's nothing but a communist prison camp."<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=273}}</ref> Jones gave the two families, along with Gosney and Bagby, permission to leave. Before leaving, Gosney was forced to sign a statement stating that he was leaving his four-year-old son behind of his own free will.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=516}}</ref> When Harris handed Gosney's note to Jones during an interview in the pavilion, Jones stated that the defectors were lying and wanted to destroy Jonestown.<ref name="raven515">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=515}}</ref>

After a sudden violent rainstorm started, emotional scenes developed between family members.<ref name="raven516">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=516–517}}</ref> Al Simon, a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] Temple member, attempted to take two of his children to Ryan to process the requisite paperwork for transfer back to the U.S.<ref name="raven516"/> Simon's wife, Bonnie, summoned over the speakers by Temple staff, loudly denounced her husband.<ref name="raven516"/> Simon pleaded with Bonnie to return to the U.S., but Bonnie rejected his suggestions.<ref name="raven516"/>

=== Port Kaituma airstrip shootings ===
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Port Kaituma airstrip shootings
| image = File:BobBrownKaituma.jpg
| caption = NBC footage taken by Bob Brown, showing gunmen exiting a tractor and trailer at the airstrip
| location = [[Port Kaituma Airport]], Guyana
| coordinates =
| target = Congressman [[Leo Ryan]] and party; defectors from the [[Peoples Temple]] at Jonestown
| date = November 18, 1978
| time = 5:20 p.m.–5:25 p.m.
| timezone = [[UTC-4]]
| type = [[Assassination]]<br />[[Mass shooting]]
| fatalities = 5<ref name="amerexper-11181978">{{Cite web|date=20 February 2007|title=The Events of 18 November 1978|publisher=PBS: American Experience, Jonestown|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/peopleevents/e_nov.html|access-date=7 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016163218/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/peopleevents/e_nov.html|archive-date=16 October 2007|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| injuries = 11<ref name="amerexper-11181978"/>
| perps = Larry Layton (Cessna attack), Peoples Temple "Red Brigade" (attack on Twin Otter)
| perp =
| weapons = Handguns, shotguns, rifles
}}

While most of Ryan's party began to depart on a large dump truck to the Port Kaituma airstrip, Ryan and Dwyer stayed behind in Jonestown to process any additional defectors. Shortly before the dump truck left, Temple loyalist Larry Layton, the brother of Deborah Layton, demanded to join the group. Several defectors voiced their suspicions about Larry's motives.<ref name="raven518">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=518}}</ref>

Shortly after the dump truck initially departed, Temple member Don "Ujara" Sly grabbed Ryan while wielding a knife.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=519–520}}</ref> While Ryan was unhurt after others wrestled Sly to the ground, Dwyer strongly suggested that the congressman leave Jonestown while he filed a criminal complaint against Sly.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=276}}</ref> Ryan did so, promising to return later to address the dispute.<ref  name="housereport" /> The truck departing to the airstrip had stopped after the passengers heard of the attack on Ryan, and took him as a passenger before continuing its journey towards the airstrip.<ref name="raven524">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=524}}</ref>

The entourage had originally scheduled a nineteen-passenger [[Twin Otter]] from [[Guyana Airways]] to fly them back to Georgetown. Because of the defectors departing Jonestown, the group grew in number and now an additional aircraft was required. Accordingly, the U.S. embassy arranged for a second plane, a six-passenger [[Cessna]].<ref name="housereport"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=525}}</ref> When the entourage reached the airstrip between 4:30&nbsp;p.m. and 4:45&nbsp;p.m., the planes had not appeared as scheduled. The group had to wait until the aircraft landed at approximately 5:10&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="housereport"/> Then the boarding process began.

Larry was a passenger on the Cessna, the first aircraft to set up for takeoff.<ref>{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=526}}</ref> After the Cessna had taxied to the far end of the airstrip, he produced a handgun and started shooting at the passengers. He wounded Bagby and Gosney, and tried to kill Dale Parks, who disarmed him after the gun misfired.<ref name="raven533">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=533}}</ref>

Meanwhile, some passengers had boarded the larger Twin Otter. A tractor with a trailer attached, driven by members of the Temple's Red Brigade security squad, arrived at the airstrip and approached the aircraft.<ref name="raven527">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|p=527}}</ref> When the tractor neared within approximately {{convert|30|ft|m|0}} of Ryan's party, at a time roughly concurrent with the shootings on the Cessna, the Red Brigade opened fire with handguns, shotguns and rifles while at least two shooters circled the plane on foot.<ref name="housereport"/> There were perhaps nine shooters whose identities are not all certainly known, but most sources agree that Wilson, Stanley Gieg, Thomas Kice Sr. and Ronnie Dennis were among them.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|1987|p=278}}</ref> Jones had instructed Larry Layton, as well as those aboard the tractor, to ensure that none of the members of Ryan's party, nor the defectors, were to leave Jonestown.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Krause |first1=Charles A. |title=Survivor: 'They Started with the Babies' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/11/21/survivor-they-started-with-the-babies/ec559372-be60-4355-a5fc-f5e306370992/ |work=The Washington Post |date=21 November 1978}}</ref>

{{External media|float=left|video1=[https://www.c-span.org/video/?454232-1/qa-representative-jackie-speier ''Q&A'' interview with Jackie Speier on her book ''Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back'', November 18, 2018], [[C-SPAN]]}}
The first few seconds of the shooting were captured on [[U-Matic]] [[electronic news-gathering|ENG]] videotape by NBC cameraman Bob Brown, who was killed along with Robinson, Harris and Temple defector Patricia Parks in the few minutes of shooting. Ryan was killed after being shot more than twenty times.<ref name="raven529"/> Speier, Reiterman, Katsaris, Steve Sung, Richard Dwyer, Charles Krause, Ron Javers, Carolyn Houston Boyd and Beverly Oliver were the nine injured in and around the Twin Otter. After the shootings, the Cessna's pilot, Tom Fernandez, along with the pilot and co-pilot of the Twin Otter, Captain Guy Spence and First officer Astil Rodwell Paul, as well as the injured Bagby, fled in the Cessna to Georgetown. The damaged Twin Otter and the injured Ryan delegation members were left behind on the airstrip.<ref name="raven529">{{Harvnb|Reiterman|Jacobs|1982|pp=529–531}}</ref>