McVeigh v. United States (1995-1996)

“That would never happen here.” As they watched televised reports of international terrorism, Oklahoma citizens frequently took comfort in their geographical position in America’s Heartland.

Everything changed at 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995. The phrase -” not here”- was forever erased from the nation’s mentality when a truck bomb exploded across the street from the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City, destroying the Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 individuals, and injuring more than 600.

In the weeks following April 19th, the world watched as decorated U.S. Army veteran Timothy James McVeigh was charged and convicted for planning and carrying out the worst act of domestic terrorism in the nation’s history. His journey through the American justice system began in the Western District Courthouse in 1995 and ended in 2001 in a federal prison in Indiana. Timothy McVeigh was indicted at this courthouse for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, use of such a weapon, destruction by explosive, and eight counts of first-degree murder.

Additional Information

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.” https://memorialmuseum.com/.