Editing Ruby Ridge standoff (section)

==Encounter near Weaver's cabin==
On August 21, 1992, six Marshals were sent to scout the area to determine suitable places away from the cabin to apprehend and arrest Weaver.<ref name=lmtorg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-p9fAAAAIBAJ&pg=4047%2C1707314 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |last=Wiley |first=John K.|title=U.S. deputy marshal gunned down |date=August 22, 1992 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=motrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G7wjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4608%2C861948 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington) |agency=Associated Press |last=Wiley |first=John |title=Marshal murdered on the run |date=August 24, 1992 |page=1A}}</ref>{{r|Subcommittee|p=39}} The marshals, dressed in [[military camouflage]], were equipped with [[night vision device|night-vision goggles]] and [[M16 rifle]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crime History - Marshals descend on Ruby Ridge |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/crime-history-marshals-descend-on-ruby-ridge |website=www.washingtonexaminer.com |date=August 20, 2009 |publisher=Washington Examiner |access-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206220246/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/crime-history-marshals-descend-on-ruby-ridge |archive-date=6 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DOJR - IV. Specific Issues Investigated (Part D) |url=https://famous-trials.com/rubyridge/1127-marshalsactivities |website=www.famous-trials.com |publisher=Department of Justice |access-date=25 March 2024 |quote=Each marshal was equipped with radios and night vision equipment and wore camouflage tops, pants, and boots. None wore bullet-proof vests, though they were available.[FN319] Degan carried one of the SOG M16s; Thomas and Norris each had rifles; Roderick had an M16; and Cooper had the "suppressed" .9mm.[FN320] Hunt was carrying camera equipment, so he elected to take only his service weapon.}}</ref> DUSMs Art Roderick, Larry Cooper, and William F. "Bill" Degan formed the reconnaissance team, while DUSMs David Hunt, Joseph Thomas, and Frank Norris formed an observation post (OP) team on the ridge north of the cabin.<ref name=RRTF_OPR_IVD2c2>RRTF, ''Report of the RRTF to the OPR'' (1994), Ch. IV., §D.2.c.(2), p. 112.</ref>

At one point, Roderick threw two rocks at the Weaver cabin to test the dog's reaction.<ref name=RRTF_OPR_IVD3a4>RRTF, ''Report of the RRTF to the OPR'' (1994), Ch. IV., §D.3.a.(4), p. 121.</ref> Later, the dog, "Striker" began following the agents. Weaver's friend, Kevin Harris, and Weaver's 14-year-old son, Samuel, emerged and followed Striker to investigate. Harris and the younger Weaver said that they were hoping the dog had noticed a game animal as the cabin was out of meat.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bock, Alan W.|year=1993|issue=October|title=Ambush at Ruby Ridge|journal=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]|url=http://reason.com/archives/1993/10/01/ambush-at-ruby-ridge|access-date=February 8, 2017|quote=[Subtitle:] How government agents set Randy Weaver up and took his family down.}}</ref> The recon team (Roderick, Cooper, and Degan) initially retreated through the woods in radio contact with the OP team, but later took up hidden defensive positions.<ref name="topfbi" />{{self-published source|date=August 2021}}

[[File:Striker Ruby Ridge.jpg|thumb|The body of Striker after he was shot and killed by Marshal Roderick]]
Later, the OP team and the Weavers claimed the dogs were alerted to the recon team in the woods after neighbors at the foot of the mountain started their pickup truck.<ref name="topfbi">{{cite book|last1=Parker|first1=R. J.|title=Top Cases of The FBI|date=2012|publisher=Rj Parker Publishing, Inc.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqvZBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT51}}{{self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref>{{self-published source|date=August 2021}} Samuel and Harris followed Striker on foot through the woods while Randy, also on foot, took a separate logging trail; Vicki, Sara, Rachel, and baby Elisheba remained at the cabin. The OP team were anxious at first, but then relaxed.<ref name="topfbi" />{{self-published source|date=August 2021}} Randy encountered the Marshals at the "Y"; Roderick claimed to have yelled, "Back off! U.S. Marshal!" upon sighting Weaver, and Cooper said he had shouted, "Stop! U.S. Marshal!"<ref name="newsweekbow" /> By their account, Samuel and Striker came out of the woods about a minute later. When the Marshals' position was revealed by the dog "Striker", a [[Labrador Retriever coat color genetics|yellow Labrador Retriever]], DUSM Roderick shot and killed the dog.<ref name="SenSubcommTerrorism96_3849">U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, ''Ruby Ridge: Report'' (1996), pp. 38–49.</ref> Seeing this, Samuel Weaver reportedly said to the Marshals, "You've killed my dog, you son of a bitch!", and then shot in the direction of Roderick. DUSM Cooper then shot towards Samuel Weaver and Kevin Harris, who both sought cover.<ref name="SenSubcommTerrorism96_3849"/> Harris, once finding cover behind a tree stump, then returned fire with a shot that killed DUSM William Francis "Bill" Degan Jr.<ref name="SenSubcommTerrorism96_3849"/> Samuel Weaver, now retreating up a hill, was then shot in the back and killed by DUSM Cooper.<ref name="SenSubcommTerrorism96_3849"/>{{r|Walter02|p=163-180}}

A later ballistics report showed that nineteen rounds were fired during the fight.<ref name="syd">{{cite news|last1=Albright|first1=Syd|title=Idaho's tragedy at Ruby Ridge|url=http://www.cdapress.com/archive/article-44130b08-6a05-582f-b64d-839d98c45aa8.html|access-date=July 22, 2017|date=September 14, 2014|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021220854/http://www.cdapress.com/archive/article-44130b08-6a05-582f-b64d-839d98c45aa8.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> DUSM Roderick fired one shot from an [[M16A1]] (which killed "Striker", the dog, by entering his body two inches from the dog's anus, and exiting the chest), then Samuel fired three from a [[.223 Remington|.223]] [[Ruger Mini-14]] (at Roderick), Degan fired seven from an M16 (at Harris and Weaver, while moving at least {{convert|21|ft}}), and Cooper fired six from a 9&nbsp;mm [[Colt 9&nbsp;mm SMG|Colt submachine gun]] (at Harris and Weaver), Harris then fired two from a [[.30-06]] [[M1917 Enfield Rifle]] (striking and killing DUSM Degan).<ref name="SenSubcommTerrorism96_3849"/><ref name="rogers">{{cite web|last1=Worthington|first1=Rogers|title=Next Siege Probe For Congress: Idaho|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/08/06/next-siege-probe-for-congress-idaho/|website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=July 22, 2017|date=August 6, 1995}}</ref> After the federal agents began firing, Samuel was killed by a shot to the back while retreating.<ref name="rogers" /> Harris had fired the shot which killed DUSM Degan.<ref name="rogers" /><ref name=Lynch020821>{{cite journal|author=Lynch, Tim|date=August 21, 2002|title=Remember Ruby Ridge|journal=National Review|format=online|via=Cato.org|url=https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/remember-ruby-ridge|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>

The origin of the shot that killed Samuel was of critical concern in all investigations. At the time of the writing of the ''Ruby Ridge: Report'' (1996), the [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security|Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Government Information]], chaired by [[United States Senator|Senator]] [[Arlen Specter]], observed that the government's position at trial was that Cooper had fired the shot. The Subcommittee engaged additional experts and ultimately declined to draw a final conclusion.<ref name=SenSubcommTerrorism96_46f>U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, ''Ruby Ridge: Report'' (1996), Ch. B. §&nbsp;5.b., pp. 46f.</ref> The Justice Department's Ruby Ridge Task Force (RRTF) report to the [[Office of Professional Responsibility]] (OPR, 1994) states:

{{blockquote|The evidence suggests, but does not establish, that the shot that killed Samuel Weaver was fired by DUSM Cooper.}} It was concluded there was no indication he intended to kill or injure Weaver.<ref name=RRTF_OPR_IVD3c4>RRTF, ''Report of the RRTF to the OPR'' (1994), Ch. IV., §D.3.c. and 4., pp. 125–127.</ref><ref>Quoting from the RRTF report cited in the preceding. From subsection 3.c.:{{small|"Although it is not our intention to speculate, the evidence, though not conclusive, certainly suggests that the shot that killed Samuel came from Cooper's .9mm weapon. We have found no evidence that Cooper, or any of the marshals, intentionally sought to kill or injure Samuel Weaver. / Cooper said that he purposely fired three shots at Harris, after Harris shot Degan and appeared to be preparing to fire at Degan again. ... Cooper next fired a second three-round burst, in the direction from which he had received fire, as cover in an effort to reach Degan. He said this burst was not directed at a specific target. It is possible that Samuel may have been mortally wounded at that time. / Samuel Weaver was shot during a firefight in which he was a participant. There is no proof, and we do not conclude, that Cooper intentionally aimed the fatal shot at Samuel Weaver. Indeed, the record demonstrates that the marshals went to great lengths in preparing for their mission to avoid endangering the Weaver children."}}</ref><ref>Quoting from the RRTF report cited in the preceding. From subsection subsection 4., {{small|"We are unable to determine who initiated the gunfire at the Y on August 21. The evidence suggests, but does not establish, that the shot that killed Samuel Weaver was fired by DUSM Cooper. Assuming that to be so, we find that there was no intent on the part of Cooper or any of the other marshals to harm Samuel Weaver. We also find that the marshals did not attempt to conceal the shooting of Samuel Weaver since they were unaware that Samuel Weaver had even been injured."}}</ref>

Reporter [[Jess Walter]], in his work ''Ruby Ridge: The Truth and Tragedy of the Randy Weaver Family'' concludes that Cooper fired the bullet that killed Samuel Weaver.{{r|Walter02|p=390}}

In 1997, Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl conducted an independent search of the "Y", and his investigator, Lucien Haag, discovered and confirmed that a bullet found in that search matched DUSM Cooper's 9&nbsp;mm Colt submachine gun and contained fibers that matched Samuel's shirt, conclusively proving DUSM Cooper shot Weaver in the back as he retreated.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morlin|first1=Bill|title=Marshal Killed Weaver's Son At Ruby Ridge Tests Confirm Bullet Came From Federal Agent's Gun, Says Sheriff|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/oct/23/marshal-killed-weavers-son-at-ruby-ridge-tests/|access-date=July 22, 2017|publisher=Spokesman.com|date=October 23, 1997}}</ref>

Harris's and the federal agents' accounts differ as to who fired first.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Ruby Ridge |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruby-ridge/|last=Goodman|first=Barak|access-date=July 23, 2017 |series=American Experience|season=29|number=6|series-link=American Experience|network=PBS|date=February 14, 2017|time=24:30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Lohr, David|year=2003|title=Randy Weaver: Siege at Ruby Ridge [23 Chapters]|work=Court TV's Crime Library|via=CrimeLibrary.com|url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/cops_others/randy_weaver/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206161506/http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/cops_others/randy_weaver/|archive-date=December 6, 2003|access-date=February 8, 2017|location=New York|publisher=American Lawyer Media|page=12}}</ref> In the 1993 trial over charges in Degan's death, prosecutors alleged that Harris had fired the first shot. Harris asserted [[self-defense]] and was [[acquittal|acquitted]].<ref name="harrisacquit">{{cite news|last1=Egan|first1=Timothy|title=Rebuking the U.S., Jury Acquits 2 In Marshal's Killing in Idaho Siege|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/09/us/rebuking-the-us-jury-acquits-2-in-marshal-s-killing-in-idaho-siege.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=July 22, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=July 9, 1993}}</ref>

On [[cross-examination]] by the defense, ballistics experts called by the prosecution testified that the physical evidence contradicted neither the prosecution's nor the defense's theories of the gunfight.{{r|Walter02|p=390}} [[Martin Fackler]] testified that Roderick fired the shot or shots that killed Striker, that Degan fired the shot that hit Samuel in the right elbow, that Harris shot and killed Degan, and that Cooper "probably" shot and killed Samuel.{{r|Walter02|p=390}} <!-- Delete duplicate statement about Harris being acquitted; already noted and cited in previous paragraph --><!-- Delete duplicate statement by Walter in his book about Sheriff's investigation; already noted above with 1997 cite by newspaper, too -->

Roderick and Cooper stated that Striker, the dog, emerged from the woods ahead of Harris and Samuel. According to their account, Degan confronted Harris, who then turned and fatally shot Degan before Degan could fire. Roderick claimed he shot the dog once, after which Samuel fired twice at him, prompting Roderick to return fire. Both Roderick and Cooper testified that they heard multiple gunshots from the Weaver group. Cooper further testified that he fired two three-shot bursts at Harris, causing Harris to fall "like a sack of potatoes," with leaves flying up in front of him, likely from the impact of a round. After taking cover, Cooper stated that he saw Samuel flee and radioed OP team member Dave Hunt, reporting that he had either wounded or killed Harris.<ref name=RRTF_OPR_IVD>RRTF, ''Report of the RRTF to the OPR'' (1994), Ch. IV., §D., pp. 96–127.</ref>

As described by Randy and Sara Weaver, in their book ''The Federal Siege'' (1998), Harris's version of events differed, as follows.<ref name=RSWeaver98_MISSINGPAGES>Weaver & Weaver, ''The Federal Siege'' (1998). Book-length source cited without page number or chapter, so content appearing at these footnoted locations is not yet traceable to this source.</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2017}} Harris told them Striker was followed out of the woods by Samuel and Harris, and that the dog ran up to Cooper. He said the dog ran to Roderick, who shot it in front of Samuel. Samuel yelled, "You shot my dog, you son of a bitch!", and fired a shot at Roderick.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Ruby Ridge |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruby-ridge/|last=Goodman|first=Barak|access-date=July 23, 2017 |series=American Experience|season=29|number=6|series-link=American Experience|network=PBS|date=February 14, 2017|time=23:33}}</ref> Harris said that Degan came out of the woods and shot Samuel in the arm. Harris fired and hit Degan in the chest. According to the Weavers, Harris said that Cooper fired at Harris, who ducked for cover, and Cooper fired again, hitting Samuel in the back, who fell. Harris fired about 6 feet (2&nbsp;m) in front of Cooper, forcing him to take cover. Only then did he hear Cooper identify himself as a U.S. Marshal. Harris said he checked Samuel and found him dead, and ran to the Weavers' cabin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ruby Ridge Figure Disputes U.S. Marshals|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/27/us/ruby-ridge-figure-disuptes-us-marshals.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 23, 2017|date=September 27, 1995}}</ref>

After the firefight at the "Y", Hunt and Thomas went to a neighbor's house to call for assistance from the USMS Crisis Center. Norris, Cooper, and Roderick stayed with Degan's body at the "Y". Randy and Vicki went to the "Y" and retrieved Samuel's body. Randy, Vicki and Harris placed the body in a guest cabin near the main cabin.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Rachel|title=The Federal Response To Oregon Occupation May Have Roots In Ruby Ridge|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/31/465000760/the-federal-response-to-oregon-occupation-may-have-roots-in-ruby-ridge|website=NPR.org|access-date=July 23, 2017|date=January 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Vohryzek|first1=Miki|last2=Olson-Raymer|first2=Gayle|last3=Whamond|first3=Jeffery O.|title=Domestic Terrorism and Incident Management: Issues and Tactics|date=2001|publisher=Charles C Thomas Publisher|isbn=978-0398083083|page=175|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jfBwCQAAQBAJ&q=Samuel%20weaver%20guest%20cabin&pg=PA175}}</ref> From 11:15&nbsp;a.m. onward, Hunt reported to the Crisis Center in [[Washington, D.C.]], that no further gunfire was heard.<ref name="huntcall">{{Cite episode |title=Ruby Ridge |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ruby-ridge/|last=Goodman|first=Barak|access-date=July 23, 2017 |series=American Experience|season=29|number=6|series-link=American Experience|network=PBS|date=February 14, 2017|time=26:20}}</ref>