Timothy James McVeigh (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001) was an American who served in the United States Army and later worked as a security guard. On April 19, 1995, he bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, an attack that killed 168 people and injured many more. McVeigh was convicted on federal charges related to the bombing and was executed for those crimes.

Background

McVeigh grew up in the United States and enlisted in the military as a young man. After leaving active service he held civilian jobs, including work as a security guard. During the early 1990s he became increasingly hostile toward federal law enforcement, a sentiment he later said contributed to his actions in 1995.

The bombing

On April 19, 1995, a vehicle-borne explosive detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The blast caused catastrophic structural damage, destroyed offices and storefronts, and produced a large number of casualties. The attack targeted a federal facility and remains one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in United States history.

Arrest, prosecution, and sentence

McVeigh was arrested soon after the bombing. Federal investigators charged him with multiple offenses; at trial he was found guilty on counts that included using a weapon of mass destruction and murder of federal employees. The jury imposed a death sentence, and McVeigh exhausted his appeals in federal court.

Execution and final rites

McVeigh was executed by the federal government on June 11, 2001. Immediately before his execution he met with a Catholic priest and received the Last Rites. The case prompted extensive public debate about domestic terrorism, the death penalty, and the causes and prevention of politically motivated violence.

Aftermath

  • The bombing led to changes in building security and federal responses to domestic threats.
  • Survivors, families of victims, and first responders were left with long-term physical and emotional consequences.
  • Investigations identified collaborators and resulted in additional prosecutions of individuals connected to the attack.