An FBI spokesman said the agency was "assisting" the police investigation into the shooting.

He wanted to quote me about what I had done the night before rather than rely on a secondhand source like an FBI spokesman.

Ricks served as FBI spokesman during the Waco siege, often speaking for the government at press conferences.

The newsmen clustered at the 10:30 press conference started talking all at once, but the FBI spokesman motioned for them to be silent.

Paul Holstein, an FBI spokesman in Albany, declined to comment on the investigation.

In Chicago, an FBI spokesman declined to comment but said "we'll have something to release later possibly."

Michael Kortan, an FBI spokesman, acknowledged the meetings but did not elaborate.

An FBI spokesman said the move was 'a very hopeful sign' but fears were growing that some sect members may commit suicide.

"Our profile never matched Tocca," an FBI spokesman said.

An FBI spokesman in Detroit justified the response, saying: "The public would rather us err on the side of caution than not."