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Oregon militia standoff: FBI releases video of LaVoy Finicum fatal shooting Oregon militia standoff: FBI releases video of LaVoy Finicum fatal shooting
(35 minutes later)
LaVoy Finicum, the Oregon militia spokesman killed by law enforcement officials on a remote highway, was armed with a handgun and reached for his pocket before he was shot, according to the FBI, which shared blurry video footage of the shooting on Thursday night.LaVoy Finicum, the Oregon militia spokesman killed by law enforcement officials on a remote highway, was armed with a handgun and reached for his pocket before he was shot, according to the FBI, which shared blurry video footage of the shooting on Thursday night.
Finicum, a key leader of the armed occupation at the Malheur national wildlife refuge in rural Harney County, was traveling with Ammon Bundy and several other militiamen on Tuesday afternoon outside of the town of Burns when Oregon state troopers and federal officials stopped them. Finicum, a key leader of the armed occupation at the Malheur national wildlife refuge in rural Harney County, was traveling with Ammon Bundy and several other militiamen on Tuesday afternoon outside of the town of Burns when troopers with the Oregon State Police (OSP) and federal officials stopped them.
The footage, taken from an FBI plane flying above, shows a white truck that police say was driven by Finicum speeding away from police.The footage, taken from an FBI plane flying above, shows a white truck that police say was driven by Finicum speeding away from police.
“He nearly hit an FBI agent,” Greg Bretzing, FBI special agent, told reporters at a news conference in Burns while he showed the footage.“He nearly hit an FBI agent,” Greg Bretzing, FBI special agent, told reporters at a news conference in Burns while he showed the footage.
It’s difficult to discern what happened in the final moments before troopers shot Finicum, a 55-year-old Arizona resident. The video shows the vehicle speeding toward a blockade of three law enforcement cars.It’s difficult to discern what happened in the final moments before troopers shot Finicum, a 55-year-old Arizona resident. The video shows the vehicle speeding toward a blockade of three law enforcement cars.
The truck got stuck in the snow, and Finicum exited from the driver’s seat with his hands initially in the air. Surrounded by troopers on either side, Finicum’s hands appeared to reach down toward his waist just before officers fired shots.The truck got stuck in the snow, and Finicum exited from the driver’s seat with his hands initially in the air. Surrounded by troopers on either side, Finicum’s hands appeared to reach down toward his waist just before officers fired shots.
Finicum fell to the ground and laid motionless in the snow.Finicum fell to the ground and laid motionless in the snow.
Bretzing said the video in its entirety showed Finicum was repeatedly refusing to comply with officials’ orders.Bretzing said the video in its entirety showed Finicum was repeatedly refusing to comply with officials’ orders.
“Finicum reaches his right hand toward a pocket on the left inside portion of his jacket. He did have a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in that pocket,” Bretzing said. “At this time, OSP troopers shot Finicum.”“Finicum reaches his right hand toward a pocket on the left inside portion of his jacket. He did have a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in that pocket,” Bretzing said. “At this time, OSP troopers shot Finicum.”
He later added: “It was a reckless action that resulted in consequences.”He later added: “It was a reckless action that resulted in consequences.”
Bretzing said he was showing the video to counter “inaccurate” and “inflammatory” claims about the shooting: “We feel it is necessary to show the whole thing unedited in the interest of transparency.”Bretzing said he was showing the video to counter “inaccurate” and “inflammatory” claims about the shooting: “We feel it is necessary to show the whole thing unedited in the interest of transparency.”
Bundy and Finicum’s loved ones have said the Arizona rancher was shot in cold blood and that the shooting was a targeted setup. The militiamen, who had been occupying the wildlife refuge since 2 January, were on their way to a community meeting they planned to host outside of the federal compound when officials stopped them. Relatives of Bundy and Finicum, whose legal name was Robert Finicum, have said the Arizona rancher was shot in cold blood and that the shooting was a targeted setup. The militiamen, who had been occupying the wildlife refuge since 2 January, were on their way to a community meeting they planned to host outside of the federal compound when officials stopped them.
According to Bretzing’s explanation of the video, which is 30 minutes in total, the occupiers were driving two separate vehicles when they encountered law enforcement. According to Bretzing’s account of the events - some of which is viewable on the grainy 30-minute video - the occupiers were driving two separate vehicles when they encountered law enforcement.
Bundy and militiaman Brian Cavalier were in a jeep with an unidentified driver, Bretzing said. The jeep stopped and those three exited without incident.Bundy and militiaman Brian Cavalier were in a jeep with an unidentified driver, Bretzing said. The jeep stopped and those three exited without incident.
But Finicum’s truck ended up driving away. After he was shot Finicum’s truck initially stopped as well. Bretzing said Ryan Payne, another high-profile militia leader, exited through the back of the vehicle - though it’s difficult to see in the footage. “You can see him with his hands up being approached by law enforcement officers,” said Bretzing.
After Finicum was shot, FBI officials deployed “flash bangs” to “disorient” other occupants that remained in the truck, according to Bretzing. Minutes later, the remaining passengers started leaving the car with their hands up, the video shows.
Ryan Bundy, Ammon’s brother, occupier Shawna Cox, and a second woman who police did not identify all exited the truck.
The Bundy brothers, Cox, Cavalier, and Payne were all arrested and charged with felony offenses of conspiracy to impede officers through the use of force, intimidation or threats.
Reached by phone Thursday night, Cliven Bundy - who is Ammon’s father and the Nevada rancher who led a 2014 standoff with the federal government - said he had watched the FBI footage multiple times and that it seemed clear to him the fatal shooting was unnecessary and aggressive.
“It looks like he was assassinated to me,” Bundy said. “He’s got his hands up. … I can’t see where he is reaching for his gun.”