FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shoots and kills Vicki Weaver during an 11-day siege at her home at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.

Lon Horiuchi is a former FBI sniper who gained notoriety for his involvement in the Ruby Ridge standoff incident that took place in August 1992 in Idaho, USA. The incident resulted in the death of Vicki Weaver.

The Ruby Ridge standoff began as a confrontation between the Weaver family and federal law enforcement agents. The Weavers, Randy and Vicki Weaver, were a separatist family who held anti-government views and had a history of legal troubles. The situation escalated when Randy Weaver failed to appear in court for weapons charges, and the U.S. Marshals Service issued a warrant for his arrest.

On August 21, 1992, a team of U.S. Marshals accompanied by other federal agents, including Lon Horiuchi, surrounded the Weaver’s remote cabin on Ruby Ridge. Horiuchi was a member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and was tasked with providing sniper support to the law enforcement operation.

During the standoff, a confrontation occurred between the Weavers and law enforcement agents. Lon Horiuchi, positioned at a distance from the cabin, fired a shot that struck and killed Vicki Weaver. She was standing in the cabin’s doorway while holding her infant daughter. The shot that Horiuchi fired was aimed at Randy Weaver, who was also in the doorway, but it hit Vicki instead. This tragic incident further escalated tensions and outrage surrounding the standoff.

The Ruby Ridge incident sparked significant controversy and led to public debate about the use of deadly force by law enforcement, especially in cases involving civilians and nonviolent suspects. The legal aftermath of the incident included charges against Horiuchi, but he was ultimately not prosecuted due to legal complexities surrounding the case and issues related to jurisdiction and immunity.

The Ruby Ridge incident and Lon Horiuchi’s role in it remain a topic of debate and discussion in discussions about government overreach, the use of force by law enforcement, and the rights of individuals in confrontations with the government.