Jones originally founded his Peoples Temple in Indianapolis and later settled in San Francisico. However, he had to move to Guyana when rumors of drug abuse, fraud and murder within his sect grew. A visit to the city by US Representative Leo Ryan ended in an attempt on his life, after which the members of the cult were forced to commit collective suicide. This was done with the help of poison: that was put in fruit juice and injected into the mouth of children with a syringe. Sources refer to the deaths with terms such as mass murder-suicide 'a massacre' or simply 'mass murder'. In total, 918 individuals died in Jonestown. A third of the victims (304) were minors. Guards armed with guns and crossbows had been ordered to shoot anyone who attempted to flee the settlement as Jones lobbied for suicide. We write 18 November 1978.

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