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Bill Buford
ATF Special Agent in Charge, Waco Raid
ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Division who led the initial February 28, 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian compound at Mount Carmel near Waco, Texas, despite knowing the element of surprise had been lost
Overview
Charles "Bill" Buford was the ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Division who personally led the tactical team in the ill-fated initial raid on the Branch Davidian compound on February 28, 1993. The raid, which was part of "Operation Showtime" designed to serve arrest and search warrants on David Koresh for suspected illegal weapons modifications, became a catastrophic failure that resulted in the deaths of 4 ATF agents and 6 Branch Davidians on the first day alone, with over 20 others wounded. Buford was shot during the exchange of gunfire, taking rounds to his legs. Critical to the accountability question: ATF leadership, including Buford, was informed before the raid that the element of surprise had been compromised; undercover agent Robert Rodriguez had confirmed Koresh knew the raid was coming; yet the decision was made to proceed. The subsequent investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Professional Responsibility found that ATF leadership, including raid commanders Phillip Chojnacki and Chuck Sarabyn, made false statements about what they knew regarding the lost element of surprise. The initial raid failure triggered the 51-day standoff that ended on April 19, 1993, when the FBI assault with CS gas culminated in a fire that killed 76 Branch Davidians, including 25 children.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Led the initial ATF raid on the Branch Davidian compound on February 28, 1993, which resulted in the deaths of 4 ATF agents and 6 Branch Davidians
The raid proceeded despite knowledge that the element of surprise had been compromised; undercover agent Robert Rodriguez confirmed David Koresh knew the raid was coming
U.S. Treasury Department investigation found ATF raid commanders made false statements about what they knew regarding the lost element of surprise
The failed initial raid directly triggered the 51-day standoff that ended with the deaths of 76 Branch Davidians including 25 children
ATF had been warned by multiple sources that a frontal assault on the heavily armed compound was extremely high-risk and likely to result in casualties
The operation was nicknamed "Operation Showtime" and was timed in part to generate favorable publicity for ATF budget hearings
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Phillip Chojnacki
ATF co-commander of the Waco raid who was dismissed and later reinstated with back pay
Chuck Sarabyn
ATF co-commander who gave the order to proceed despite the element of surprise being compromised
Robert Rodriguez
ATF undercover agent who warned leadership that Koresh knew the raid was coming; leadership proceeded anyway
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
U.S. Treasury Department: Report of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell(1993)
Reavis, D. - The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation (Simon and Schuster)(1995)
House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform: Investigation into the Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians(1996)
Personal Information
- Birthplace
- Arkansas
Education
- •University of Central Arkansas
Key Timeline
1993-02-28
Leads the ATF tactical team in the initial raid on the Branch Davidian compound at Mount Carmel; 4 ATF agents and 6 Branch Davidians are killed
1993-02-28
Shot and wounded during the gun battle, taking rounds to his legs
1993-04-19
The 51-day standoff triggered by the failed raid ends when an FBI assault with CS gas results in a fire killing 76 Branch Davidians, including 25 children
1993-09
U.S. Treasury Department Office of Professional Responsibility investigation finds ATF leadership made misleading statements about knowledge of compromised surprise
1994
ATF raid commanders Phillip Chojnacki and Chuck Sarabyn are initially dismissed, later reinstated with back pay after appeal