Today in history On June 13, 1997 – A jury sentences Timothy McVeigh to death for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

 

In 1997, a federal jury sentenced Timothy McVeigh to death for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in United States history. The bombing took place on April 19, 1995, when a truck filled with explosives detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring hundreds more. McVeigh, a former U.S. Army soldier, carried out the attack as an act of revenge against the federal government, which he blamed for the deadly 1993 Waco siege and the 1992 Ruby Ridge incident.

During his trial, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence linking McVeigh to the bombing. Witnesses testified to seeing him near the scene, and forensic experts connected him to the materials used in the truck bomb. The jury deliberated for only 11 hours before finding him guilty on all 11 counts, including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and first-degree murder. In the sentencing phase, emotional testimony from survivors and victims’ families painted a devastating picture of the attack's human toll. On June 13, 1997, the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, a decision later upheld by the judge.

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McVeigh’s sentence marked a turning point in how the U.S. dealt with domestic terrorism. His execution was carried out by lethal injection on June 11, 2001, making him the first person executed by the federal government in 38 years. The Oklahoma City bombing profoundly impacted American society, leading to increased security measures at federal buildings and prompting new anti-terrorism legislation. It also sparked national conversations about extremist ideologies, the responsibilities of the government, and the importance of remembering the lives lost in acts of domestic terror.