Plot Synopsis

Based on the true story of the 1993 siege, WACO is a six-part scripted event series that chronicles the standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh's spiritual sect that resulted in a deadly shootout and fire. In February 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) conducted a raid on a small religious community near Waco, TX. A 51-day standoff with leader David Koresh and his followers, the Branch Davidians, ensued and ended after an FBI assault led to a fire that killed 76 people. WACO is based in part on Gary Noesner's book "Stalling For Time, My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator." The series opens with the ATF receiving a tip of suspicious activity involving weapons taking place among a small religious community led by Koresh at the Mount Carmel Center, located just outside of Waco, TX. Soon after, ATF agent Jacob Vasquez begins undercover surveillance on the Mount Carmel compound and befriends Koresh in hopes of finding illegal weapons or other activity. With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff. Negotiations intensify as the Branch Davidians refuse to surrender; as David Koresh waits for a sign from God, the lack of food and medical treatment tests both the Davidians' faith and law enforcement's patience. For a moment, the end of the stalemate seems near when the FBI's tactical division turns up the heat with psy-ops on David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, bringing the standoff to a violent and tragic end.
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On Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT, Paramount Network premiered "Day 51," the finale of WACO, as the standoff at the Mount Carmel compound comes to a violent and tragic end.