During the 28 February 1993 shootout that began the siege, Branch reportedly shot and killed a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agent, shouting that he "got one!" Branch Davidian Marjorie Thomas testified that she heard Branch and Kevin Whitecliff, another Branch Davidian, admitting they shot at agents during the shootout. Another Davidian, Victorine Hollingsworth, testified she also heard Branch and Livingstone Fagan discuss firing on agents on 28 February 1993. After the shootout, he, Whitecliff, and Oliver Gyarfas were sent out of the compound to dig a grave for Peter Gent, who died in the shootout. Branch had indicated to federal authorities that he wished to exit Mount Carmel Center during the siege on 11 March 1993. He left the compound with Whitecliff with permission from Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on 19 March 1993. The only reason that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received for why they left when they did was because before then "it wasn't time". While jailed after leaving the compound, Branch told NBC that David Koresh sought to challenge other Christian leaders to see who can "reveal the book", meaning the Bible. Also while in jail, Brad Branch told CNN that the 19 April fire that destroyed the Mount Carmel compound was a "systematic assassination by the FBI to eliminate all of the crime scene". Branch soon after the siege also believed that Koresh was not responsible for the fire.
