Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas/Mass Suicide or Mass Murder?

The medical examiner has determined that Koresh, Schneider and a number of other individuals who died in the compound on April 19, did not die from the fire, but died from gunshot wounds. It is not known whether these individuals committed suicide or were shot by others.

Former Davidian Dana Okimoto reported to authorities in an interview on May 27, 1993, after the fire, that Koresh's biggest fear was that someone would take his wives away and that he felt that rather than letting someone take his wife, the wife should kill herself and if she could not do so one of the "mighty men" should do it, since this was one of their duties. Therefore, if people were shot within the compound it may have been in accordance with the above plan. It is also possible that some people were shot to prevent their escape from the compound. We may never know what really happened.