Victor Houteff was a fellow of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Los Angeles when he realized severe doctrinal errors in Church. He broke with the church (after his excommunication) and started his own following – the Davidians. The “Branch” part was the most hardcore segment, the true believers who stayed when most of the others were disillusioned and left. Branch Davidians themselves split off, with a violence-prone David Koresh (born Vernon Howell) taking the Branch Davidians to Texas.

On this day, April 19, 1993, David Koresh, besieged by federal agents, ended the standoff by choosing death over surrender. Some 120 followers were with him at the compound, armed with a heavy array of weapons which they used to hold off the FBI and ATF, who were there to investigate possible illegal firearms.

A large cache of weapons was found at the compound after the agents entered it – automatic rifles, shotguns, pistols – along with gas masks and kevlar body armor. Clearly David Koresh, who six years prior violently ended the life of a rival Brand Davidian leader — did not expect to be taken in quietly.