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FBI dropped from Davidian wrongful-death suit ers, head of the hostage-rescue were consistent with the round Agent Riley later retracted'his fire took place there by govern for many years. ment police officers," altliough he team, said that while the Davidians By Jerry Seper The Tfexas court's decision is the used by Agent Horiuchi in the statement, saying he heard no gun THE WASHINGTON TIMES did shoot at the agents, the FBI did second time that accusations have death of Vickie Weaver shots from the sniper post. Bureau has declined to elaborate. of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agent Horiuchi, a 15-year FBI not fire "a single shot" because A federal court has dismissed an been dismissed against the veteran The Rangers' report raised questions about the FBI's role in (ATF) agents involved in a gun- veteran and graduate of the U.S. they did not "acquire clear and FBI sharpshooter from a lawsuit agent. In 1998, a federal judge in Military Academy at West Point, identifiable targets." brought by survivors of the 1993 Idaho dismissed manslaughter Uie 51-day standoff, now the sub fight at the Davidian site on Feb. 28, 1993, had occupied the same N.Y., has not been available for In the case, Agent siege at the Branch Davidian com charges brought against Agent ject of inquiries by former Mis Horiuchi testified he did not mean souri Sen. John Danforth. The sniper posts. comment. He told Justice investi pound near , Tbxas, saying Horiuchi by state officials in the gators shortly after the Wacoraid to shoot Mrs. Weaver, 42, as she there is no evidence the agent fired shooting death of the wife of white Danforth probe is trying to deter The FBI and the Justice Depart mine whether FBI agents started a ment have denied that any shots 5iat "none of the under his stood in the doorway of their re his weapon during the lengthy separatist during a mote Idaho cabin. 1992 siege in Ruby Ridge, Idaho. fire that killed 86 persons, includ were fired by agents during the control at Sierra-1 fired any standoff. rounds from their weapons." FBI Agent Horiuchi's name surfaced ing 24 children, and if they fired siege. He said the shot was intended member had been in the Waco case after a report re shots into the compound. The lawsuit claims that some of In an Oct. 30, 1993, report, the for Kevin Harris, a family friend named in a wrongful-death lawsuit leased by the Tfexas Rangers said a Coupled with reports of the ex those who died in the April 19, Justice Department said the FBI who was armed. The fatal shot brought against the government dozen .308-caliber bullet casings, pended casings and a two-page 1993, raid were killed in an ex and the ATF acted responsibly came from a distance of200 yards, by the Davidians. two dozen .223 casings, three .45 statement by FBI Agent Charles change of gunfire. The suit is during the siege and that Branch fired from a specially modified "We are very grateful this long casings and a .22-250 casing were Riley — who said he heard shots scheduled to go to trial next month Davidian leader was .308-caiiber sniper rifle. standing allegation has been re found at the postmanned by Agent fired from a sniper post occupied in Waco. to blame for the carnage. A federal judge dismissed the by Agent Horiuchi — the Tfexasre Commissioner James B. Fran solved in favor of Agent Horiuchi," Horiuchi and atanothersniper site During the April 1993 Waco state charges against Agent said FBI Director Louis J. Freeh. outside the Davidian compound. port generated further public and cis, who heads the Texas Depart Horiuchi in May 1998, saying he. political pressure for full disclo ment of Public Safety, has said raid, FBI agents were authorized "This lifts a heavy burden both he The .308 casings were similar to to use deadly force. Richard Rog was acting in the line of duty. and his family have had to endure those often used by snipers and sure of the FBI's actions in Waco. there were some indication "gun