Page "Randy Weaver" Paragraph 17

The next day, August 22, 1992, HRT sniper / observer teams were deployed on the north ridge overlooking the cabin.

Randy Weaver, Harris, and Weaver's 16-year-old daughter Sara were seen outside the cabin.

Weaver went to view the body of Sammy Weaver, which had been placed in a shed after being recovered the previous day.

Weaver's back was to FBI HRT sniper Lon Horiuchi.

Horiuchi aimed to sever Weaver's spine for an instant kill.

Weaver moved in the last split second as Horiuchi fired and the bullet entered Weaver's right shoulder and exited the armpit.

As the three ran back to the house, Horiuchi fired again at Kevin Harris as he ran away, but this time hit Weaver's wife Vicki in the head as she held their 10-month-old daughter Elishiba at the door.

Vicki Weaver collapsed on the floor, dying instantly with her bloody but uninjured daughter in her arms.

Harris was hit in the chest by the same bullet.

A Justice Department review later found this second shot was unconstitutional and the lack of a request to surrender was " inexcusable ", since Harris and the two Weavers were running for cover and could not pose an imminent threat.

The task force also specifically blamed Horiuchi for firing at the door, not knowing whether someone was on the other side of it, and criticized those who had decided on the special rules of engagement allowing shots to be fired with no previous request for surrender.

Much later, a robot vehicle approached the cabin and announced the presence of law enforcement.

According to the Weavers, this was the first announcement of the source of the violence.