Affidavit of John Risenhoover – Waco Raid Vocabulary

Key vocabulary extracted from Special Agent John Risenhoover’s affidavit detailing the ATF’s February 28, 1993 Waco raid.

What is the full name of the affidavit's author?

John Risenhoover.

What branch of the military did John Risenhoover serve in?

The United States Marine Corps Reserved.

From which university did John Risenhoover graduate?

Baylor University.

In what city is Baylor University located?

Waco.

In what year did John Risenhoover graduate from Baylor University?

1988.

What degree did John Risenhoover earn from Baylor University?

Business Administration and Financial Planning.

When did John Risenhoover begin his career with the ATF?

In 1989.

What is the full name of the agency John Risenhoover started his career with?

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

What type of initial training did John Risenhoover complete for his ATF career?

A four-month criminal investigator school and new agent training.

Where did John Risenhoover complete his initial ATF training?

Glynco, Georgia.

What specific techniques did John Risenhoover study during his initial ATF training?

Basic criminal investigation techniques.

What was John Risenhoover's first assignment after his initial ATF training?

As a Special Agent.

In which field office was John Risenhoover first assigned as a Special Agent?

The Houston Field office.

What were John Risenhoover's primary responsibilities as a Special Agent in Houston?

Criminal enforcement of firearms and federal related offenses.

Which specific county and city were part of John Risenhoover's primary responsibility in Houston?

Bexar County, San Antonio.

What other type of investigations did John Risenhoover handle in Houston?

Gang-related investigations.

In what type of court did John Risenhoover qualify as an expert witness?

Federal court.

In which specific judicial district did John Risenhoover qualify as an expert witness?

The Western Judicial District of Texas.

Approximately how many warrant execution teams has John Risenhoover been a part of that used a dynamic entry approach?

Well over fifty.

How does John Risenhoover define “dynamic entry”?

A quick, decisive entry into a residence or business to secure the location of any potential threats and start a search.

What key element is always involved in dynamic entry?

A surprise element.

What is the advantage of the surprise element in dynamic entry, according to John Risenhoover?

Ensures the warrant's subject doesn't have time to remove or destroy evidence or prepare any type of defense against the officers.

What is an inherent danger of dynamic entry?

Being shot at and injured.

What factor makes the danger of dynamic entry worse, according to John Risenhoover?

When the suspects ("bad guys") know you're coming.

What was John Risenhoover's assignment regarding the Waco operation?

He was assigned to the team executing the search warrant.

Who was the target of the arrest warrant in Waco?

Vernon Howell (a.k.a. David Koresh).

What was the primary objective of the search warrant in Waco, besides arrest?

To search for weapons.

What was the location targeted by the search warrant in Waco?

The Branch Davidian compound.

What was John Risenhoover's level of knowledge about the Waco investigation prior to the warrant execution?

He had a general knowledge of the investigation.

Was John Risenhoover assigned to the full investigation team for Waco?

No, he was not.

What was John Risenhoover's initial potential role in the Waco operation?

To be part of the team in the undercover house operation.

Why was John Risenhoover not selected for the undercover house operation in Waco?

The number of agents for that assignment was cut back.

What type of weapons were specifically sought by the search warrant in Waco?

Title II weapons.

What are two examples of Title II weapons mentioned in the affidavit?

Machineguns and explosive devices.

What did command stress about the Waco operation regarding discussion?

That it was a sensitive operation that shouldn't be discussed outside of proper channels.

When did John Risenhoover arrive in Fort Hood before the Waco raid?

The Wednesday or Thursday before the raid.

How long did the agents stay at Fort Hood for training before the Waco raid?

Through Sunday morning.

What was set up at Fort Hood for training purposes related to the Waco raid?

A mock compound.

What specific activities did agents practice during training at Fort Hood?

Riding in cattle trailers, dismounting, and then running through the door.

What was used during training at Fort Hood to help agents get used to loud noises?

Flash bangs.

Which specific team was observed practicing climbing ladders and going through upstairs windows at Fort Hood?

The team from New Orleans.

Approximately how many agents were involved in the Waco operation in total?

Somewhere around 75 agents.

How did John Risenhoover describe the Waco warrant service operation in terms of size?

It was the most massive warrant service operation he had ever been a part of.

What was John Risenhoover primarily focused on during training and on the day of the Waco raid?

His assignment.

What type of information did John Risenhoover lack about the Waco operation due to his focus?

Information about contingency plans or what everyone else was doing.

Did John Risenhoover hear about other agencies being involved in the Waco operation or the use of aircraft?

No, he did not.

What medical provisions were agents told would be on standby for the Waco raid?

An ambulance and a medical evacuation flight.

What is the general expectation of agents going into a raid, according to John Risenhoover?

No one goes into a raid thinking there will be any injury by an agent.

What was the specific date of the Waco raid?

February 28, 1993.

What time did agents drive from Fort Hood to Waco on the morning of the raid?

Around 5 or 6 AM.

Where did the agents gather after driving from Fort Hood to Waco?

The Bellmead Civic Center.

What was John Risenhoover wearing on the morning of the raid?

A bulletproof vest and a jacket that had ATF written in yellow on the back.

What type of pistol was John Risenhoover carrying on the day of the raid?

His Sig-Sauer P228 nine-millimeter pistol.

What was available inside the Civic Center for the agents?

Donuts and coffee.

Where did approximately half of the team wait at the Civic Center?

Outside.

Who made an announcement to the team inside the Civic Center around 9:20 AM?

SAC Sarabyn.

What did SAC Sarabyn announce at 9:20 AM?

"we just got a phone call that we've been tipped off, we need to hurry, let's go."

How did the agents travel from the Bellmead Civic Center to the Branch Davidian compound?

Loaded up in several vehicles.

Approximately how long was the drive from the Civic Center to the compound?

About a twenty-minute drive.

What were the primary vehicles used to transport agents to the compound?

Two trucks, each pulling a cattle trailer.

How were agents seated inside the cattle trailers?

On benches.

What was the role of the team in the first cattle trailer?

To breach the front door, fan out, and secure the Compound.

What was John Risenhoover's specific team called, which was in the second trailer?

The handcuff team.

What was the role of the handcuff team?

To follow behind the first group, get everyone safely in handcuffs, and then be in charge of keeping folks out of the way while the search was conducted.

Approximately how many flex cuffs did John Risenhoover personally have on him?

About ten.

What type of handcuffs were these flex cuffs?

Plastic handcuffs.

What did John Risenhoover observe about his visibility on the way to the compound?

He couldn't see much.

What specific road did John Risenhoover notice when approaching the compound?

Double EE Road.

What kind of vehicles joined the caravan on Double EE Road?

A few Tribute-Herald vehicles.

What was John Risenhoover's assumption about the media's presence at the compound?

They were waiting around in view of the compound with their cameras ready to watch them get shot.

Where did agents dismount after arriving at the compound?

From the back of their trailer.

What happened as soon as John Risenhoover took a few steps after dismounting?

He could hear gunfire exploding from the side of the Compound.

What was the sound of the bullets during the gunfire?

Whizzing around his head.

What did John Risenhoover realize about the attackers' position?

They were just lying there in wait for us.

What type of fire was prevalent during the initial exchange?

Machinegun fire everywhere.

What was the direction of the gunfire from the attackers?

They just started spraying in the middle of them.

What specific injuries did John Risenhoover sustain during the gunfire?

He was shot in the leg and in the buttocks.

What other type of injury did John Risenhoover sustain to his body?

He was hit by shrapnel all over his body.

Where did John Risenhoover hide after being shot?

Behind the tire of the trailer he came out of.

Who returned fire against the attackers?

The agents who were better armed.

Approximately how long did the exchange of gunfire last?

Over an hour.

What was John Risenhoover's physical state during the exchange of gunfire?

Bleeding out.

What did John Risenhoover observe about several other agents during the gunfire?

Lying on the ground in front of the Compound motionless.

Was John Risenhoover able to reach the other injured agents?

No, he couldn't get to them.

What development occurred after a period of quiet during the exchange?

A cease-fire was agreed to.

What was the next action after the cease-fire?

They retreated toward ambulances.

Where was John Risenhoover taken after the raid?

To a local hospital.

What medical procedure did John Risenhoover undergo at the hospital?

Immediate surgery.

How long was John Risenhoover in the hospital recovering?

Several weeks.

What is the current ongoing physical effect of his injuries?

Everything still hurts.

What serves as a constant reminder of the Waco incident for John Risenhoover?

What the media did to them that day.

How does John Risenhoover describe the Waco incident's impact on his career?

The most significant change ever in his career.

What specific tragic event did John Risenhoover witness at Waco?

The death of federal agents.

What is John Risenhoover's emotional state regarding the Waco incident?

He will never get over this thing.

How many agents died at Waco, according to John Risenhoover?

Four agents.

What other casualties does John Risenhoover lament from the Waco incident?

Tons of children died.

Who does John Risenhoover squarely blame for causing the tragic outcome at Waco?

The media.

What order regarding calling off the raid did John Risenhoover learn about later?

Chojnacki should have called off the raid if the element of surprise was compromised.

What general statement does John Risenhoover make about making tough calls in law enforcement?

You have to take the cards you've been dealt and do what you have to do.

How does John Risenhoover generally describe a law enforcement job?

It's a tough job.