The Tragedy of Oklahoma City: Remembering The Bombing

In 1995, Oklahoma City was affected by one of the worst terrorist attacks in Oklahoma yet. This terrible social disaster will be considered in OKC bombing essay. During this disaster a truck had with a large homemade bomb hidden inside, parked at the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. This explosion took off the entire north wall while also affecting the surrounding buildings in the five-block radius. People came from everywhere in the United States to come help the rescue mission, which lasted two weeks. Out of this rescue mission, 168 people were found dead, 19 of them being children. More than 650 people came out alive but severely injured, unfortunately. Many family members and friends were found on the streets, asking around downtown Oklahoma for any signs of their mutuals, some even checking hospitals, most to no avail.

The source of the bombing had taken quite a while for them to conclude, but new evidence slowly but surely explained what happened. A suitcase was found containing equipment that could be used for making this gigantic bomb. This suitcase contained: Three running suits, non-explosive material, a kitchen knife, some silicon, some pliers, an electrical wire, a hammer, a video camera, and photos of missiles and tanks. The search for the criminals of this act had begun. On the 21st of April, an eyewitness explained their testimony of who they believed to be the suspect. This witness’s description of the suspect described Timothy McVeigh, who was already in jail. Timothy had been found before being suspected because of a handgun that he carried and violations against traffic laws. He was to be released from jail but was instead identified as one of the two criminals and charged. The suspect was previously in the army and was claimed to have had a grudge against the government.

On the same day, the 21st of April, Terry Nichols surrendered himself while in Herington, Kansas. His brother James Nichols, is held on material witness warrants with him. On the 10th of May, Terry Nichols is charged, and soon after, his brother James is released with all charges against him dropped. McVeigh’s attorney later suggests that a detached leg found in the remains of the explosion is possibly from the real bomber. On the 21st of November, defense attorneys request that the trial is moved out of Oklahoma because of how “intense” it was considered for the media. About 3 months later, Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch agrees to move the trial to Denver, as he rules that the criminals have been demonized by intense media coverage in Oklahoma. The detached leg was finally identified as belonging to one of the victims. Shortly after, Nichols and McVeigh are transferred to a prison on the 30th of March.

After a short span of the trial on the judge’s decisions, Nichols and McVeigh are separated into two different trials. In the middle of the trial, four FBI workers are transferred out of the crime scene lab to give evidence for a report that is in desperate need of lab procedures to give more grounding and evidence. On the 21st of May, the case is rested by the prosecutors after being given testimonies from 137 people within 18 days. Just a week later, the defense of the trial also rests the case after speaking to 25 witnesses within three and a half days.

On the 13th of June, the judge sentences McVeigh to death by injection. McVeigh later blames his attorney, Stephen Jones, and claims he wants a different one. A week later, Jones insists on stepping down and calls his client a liar.

The amount of pain that this terrorist attack has caused is indescribable, many people stood victim to this case and even dead. Many people, and especially children, must have felt true trauma or change and we can only remember those who were lost and be thankful for those who remain with us. A memorial was made in Oklahoma City to remember those who died. We could only hope at the time that the violence ends here but unfortunately, it is inevitable. May the souls of the lost rest in peace.