West End Christian School hostage crisis

The West End Christian School hostage crisis occurred on February 2, 1988, when James L. Harvey took captive nearly 60 people, mostly children, inside the West End Christian School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. The siege came to an end when Harvey was shown a videotape made by Alabama Governor H. Guy Hunt in which the governor said that he would be granted a pardon and immunity. However, the promise was considered to have been written under duress, and thus carried no legal weight and was part of a ruse into getting him to surrender. After giving up his weapons, two pistols and a rifle, to authorities and preparing to lead the child hostages outside for what he believed would be a news conference, Harvey was wrestled to the ground by police and arrested.^[1]

West End Christian School hostage crisis
Location	Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Date	February 2, 1988
Target	West End Christian School
Attack type	Hostage taking
Deaths	0
Perpetrators	James L. Harvey, James Rhodes, Jr.

Harvey's motives in committing the crime was to spread awareness of homelessness.^[1]

Aftermath

Harvey was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.^[2] He is currently being held in the Limestone Correctional Facility.^[3]