David Koresh

David Koresh was the adopted name of Vernon Wayne Howell (1959–1993), an American Branch Davidian leader associated with the 1993 Waco siege in Texas.

David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell (1959–1993), was an American religious leader who led the Branch Davidians, a breakaway sect associated with Seventh-day Adventism. He claimed to be a prophet and the final interpreter of the Bible for the group, and he died during the 1993 Waco siege in Texas, a 51-day federal standoff that ended in a fire at the Mount Carmel Center.

Early life

Vernon Wayne Howell was born in Houston, Texas, on August 17, 1959. Sources describe a difficult upbringing before he became involved with the Branch Davidians.

Leadership of the Branch Davidians

Koresh rose to leadership of the Branch Davidians by the late 1980s and adopted the name David Koresh. He taught apocalyptic interpretations of scripture, emphasizing the Book of Revelation and the Seven Seals, and portrayed himself as the group's final prophet.

Waco siege

In 1993, federal agents raided the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, over concerns including weapons stockpiling, triggering a 51-day standoff. The siege ended in a fire on April 19, 1993, that killed Koresh and many followers.

Death and legacy

Koresh died on April 19, 1993, during the destruction of the Mount Carmel Center, with sources describing a gunshot wound amid the compound fire and assault. The Waco siege became a major event in U.S. law-enforcement and religious-history discussions.