| Partof: | Texas secession movements |
| Image Alt: | Location of the hostage crisis |
| Date: | – |
| Timezone: | UTC-5 |
| Place: | Davis Mountain Resort, Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States |
| Goals: |
|
| Side1: | Republic of Texas (McLaren Faction) |
| Side2: |  United States federal government
|
| Leadfigures1: | Richard McLaren |
| Leadfigures2: | George W. Bush |
| Howmany1: | c.5–30 members (unclear) |
| Howmany2: | Dozens of law enforcement officers |
| Casualties1: | 1 person killed (Mike Matson) |
| Casualties2: | None |
| Arrests: | Multiple, including Richard McLaren |
| Charged: | Kidnapping, aggravated assault, and other charges |
The Davis Mountain Resort hostage crisis was a hostage crisis and standoff between the McLaren Faction of the Republic of Texas group and the US federal government from April 27, 1997 to May 4, 1997, when members of the Republic of Texas-McLaren Faction kidnapped Joe and Margaret Ann Rowe[1] and held them hostage at the Davis Mountain Resort and demanded the release of a member of the group, Jo Ann Turner[2] in exchange for the Rowes, eventually saying his nation was "at war with the United States government." One of the members ended up being shot in a firefight with authorities.[3]
On April 27, 1997, members of the McLaren Faction abducted Joe and Margaret Ann Rowe from their home at the Davis Mountain Resort, a remote community in the Davis Mountains. The faction demanded the release of Jo Ann Turner, who was jailed on charges related to the group's activities, as a condition for freeing the Rowes. Richard McLaren declared that his "nation" was at war with the United States government.
For several days, negotiations continued with little progress. The McLaren Faction remained defiant, fortified within the resort, and heavily armed. On May 3, the situation escalated when a firefight broke out between the group and law enforcement. The militants with the troopers in hot pursuit fired at a Black Hawk helicopter and searching dogs[4] [5] in the Davis Mountains;[6] while one of the Republic of Texas members, Mike Matson, was shot and killed during the exchange, and one militant was also killed.[7]
The standoff concluded on May 4, 1997, when the remaining members of the McLaren Faction, facing overwhelming force and dwindling supplies, agreed to surrender. The hostages, Joe and Margaret Ann Rowe, were released unharmed. Richard McLaren and other faction members were taken into custody and subsequently faced numerous charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault.