Settlement reached in Ruby Ridge lawsuit

WASHINGTON - The federal government paid $380,000 yesterday to Kevin Harris, who alleged his rights were violated when an FBI sniper wounded him during the 1992 Ruby Ridge siege.

The Justice Department announced the settlement of the last remaining civil lawsuit arising from the weeklong standoff at the Idaho compound of white separatist Randy Weaver.

The government did not admit any liability as it paid Harris to drop his $10 million civil-damage suit.

In 1995, the government paid Weaver and his three surviving children $3.1 million in the killing of Weaver's wife, Vicki, and son, Samuel.

Earlier this year, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed state criminal charges against the FBI sniper, Lon Horiuchi. The same shot by Horiuchi, a member of the bureau's hostage-rescue team, killed Vicki Weaver and wounded Harris.

Assistant Attorney General David Ogden said yesterday, "This settlement resolves this long pending case in a way that is fair to the United States and all involved."

The Ruby Ridge siege, which led to new rules governing when FBI agents can fire their guns, had its origins in 1991. That year, Weaver, who had been charged with gun-related offenses, was indicted for failure to appeal at his trial.

In 1992, Weaver's case was referred to the U.S. Marshals, who sought to persuade him to surrender. Instead of surrendering, Weaver remained on his remote, wooded property along with his wife and children and their friend, Harris.

On Aug. 21, 1992, while U.S. Marshals were watching the Weaver property, an exchange of gunfire broke out and resulted in the deaths of Deputy Marshal William Degan and Weaver's son, Samuel.

Randy Weaver and Harris were later acquitted of federal charges of killing Degan.

On the second day of the standoff, the FBI hostage-rescue team arrived. Horiuchi fired at Harris, who was armed, as Harris retreated toward the cabin. The bullet passed through the curtained window of the cabin door, killed Vicki Weaver, who was standing behind the door holding an infant, and wounded Harris.

The Justice Department investigated a handful of top FBI officials over allegations they covered up their role in the siege and shootings, particularly in drawing up the rules of engagement for the snipers.

One former FBI supervisor, E. Michael Kahoe, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for destroying an internal FBI post-confrontation critique.

Of the handful who were suspended during the probe, only Kahoe was charged with a crime.