FBI shows video of Tuesday shooting of occupier

Four people remain inside the refuge.

Robert LaVoy Finicum, 54, died on Tuesday following a traffic stop by state police and federal officers. It’s unclear what happened in the moments before his death. They have complained about what they say are onerous federal rules governing grazing and mining rights across the West.

Even as the arrested leader of the OR standoff has called for those who remain at the federal wildlife refuge to leave, an outside patriot group has issued a new “call to action” for “any and all Americans” to join the anti-government occupiers still at the facility. The occupation began almost a month ago.

A criminal complaint filed earlier this week makes reference to an online video that showed Bundy saying the group planned to stay for several years. He and an occupier riding with him — Brian Cavalier — were arrested.

Finicum then exits his vehicle and moves erratically through the snow while flailing his arms in the air. He gets out of his truck and has his hands up at first, then reaches toward his jacket pocket at least twice.

Bretzing said Finicum had a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in that pocket.

In prepared remarks, FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing said the FBI and OSP intercepted 2 vehicles – a white truck in front and a Jeep in back – on Highway 395 between Burns and John Day.

“Finicum leaves the truck and steps through the snow”, Bretzing said. The FBI said Thursday that since those barriers were set up, nine individuals left the refuge.

A supporter of the militia who was traveling with the group when Finicum was shot quickly released a video disputing accounts Finicum had his hands up, and pleading for the militia to remain calm. “We realize that viewing that piece of the video will be upsetting to some people, but we feel that it is necessary to show the whole thing unedited in the interest of transparency”, Bretzing said. He did not identify her. Officials say they had information Finicum and the rest of the group was armed.

Raymond Doherty, an OR man who said he witnessed the clash, told Portland TV station KOIN that he heard about a half-dozen shots over 12 to 15 seconds and couldn’t see exactly who was shooting. They found three other loaded weapons inside the truck, included two loaded. The FBI acted amid growing calls that something be done to end the occupation, including from Oregon’s governor.

The FBI also confirmed there are still four people holed up in the refuge. “Use the national platform that we have to continue defend liberty through our constitutional rights in an Article III court, with an Article III judge”, Bundy said in the statement made through his lawyers. Bundy and the other leaders were arrested in the encounter with law enforcement in which Finicum was killed. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, David Fry, Jeff Banta and husband and wife duo Sean and Sandy Anderson are still inside the building.

Bundy and the seven others arrested Tuesday are charged with felony counts of “conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats”.