David Koresh

David Koresh was the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect that emerged from the Seventh-day Adventist movement. He became notorious in the early 1990s during a standoff with federal agents in Waco, Texas, after a raid on their compound in 1993 over allegations of illegal weapons. Koresh claimed to be a prophet and believed he was fulfilling biblical prophecies, leading his followers in an apocalyptic vision. The standoff lasted 51 days and ended tragically with a fire that consumed the compound, resulting in the deaths of 76 people, including Koresh. This event raised numerous discussions about religious extremism, government intervention, and individual rights.