Execution of Timothy McVeigh

On June 11, 2001, Timothy McVeigh was executed by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. The execution marked the first federal execution in the United States since 1963.

Background

Timothy McVeigh was a Gulf War veteran whose radical anti-government beliefs led him to commit the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history at that time. On April 19, 1995, McVeigh orchestrated the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The attack resulted in the deaths of 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds more.

Legal Proceedings

McVeigh was arrested shortly after the bombing and was charged with multiple counts, including using a weapon of mass destruction to destroy federal property. In 1997, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. McVeigh initially waived his right to appeal, steadfastly maintaining his anti-government stance as a motive for the attack.

Execution

McVeigh was executed by lethal injection at 7:14 a.m. on June 11, 2001. The execution was witnessed by 232 individuals, including survivors of the bombing and relatives of the victims. The event was broadcasted to a closed-circuit television feed, allowing survivors and relatives unable to attend in person to witness the execution.

Aftermath and Significance

The execution of Timothy McVeigh brought a somber closure to many affected by the bombing, though it also sparked continued debates about the death penalty in the United States. McVeigh’s actions and the subsequent trial highlighted the danger posed by domestic terrorism, influencing national policy and law enforcement approaches in the years to follow.