FBI agents involved in the traffic stop that led to the killing of one of the armed occupiers of a national wildlife refuge are under investigation for not disclosing they fired shots that missed rancher Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, an Oregon sheriff said Tuesday.
Oregon State Troopers fired the rounds that killed Finicum on Jan. 26, authorities said.
All six of their shots were justified because Finicum failed to heed officers’ commands and repeatedly reached for his weapon, Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said.
Still, it was of concern that FBI agents on the scene did not disclose they also fired shots, Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson said at a news conference.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement it is investigating FBI agents’ actions during the confrontation with Finicum, 54.
Authorities planned the traffic stop on a remote road as a way to arrest the key members of the armed group that had taken over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Oregon State Police and FBI agents stopped two vehicles carrying occupation leaders, and officers opened fire during a confrontation with Finicum. The occupation’s leaders also were arrested.
The Arizona rancher’s death became a symbol for those decrying federal oversight, on public lands in the West and elsewhere, and led to protests of what they called an unnecessary use of force.
The FBI previously released a video showing the shooting to counter claims he did nothing to provoke it. In the aerial footage, Finicum is pulled over in his truck but then takes off and plows into a snowbank because of a roadblock. He gets out and has his hands up at first, then appears to reach toward his jacket pocket at least twice. Officers shoot him, and he falls.
The FBI said it found a loaded handgun in the pocket.
Finicum was a high-profile part of the weekslong standoff at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, launched Jan. 2 by a small armed group demanding the government relinquish control of public lands and objecting to the prison sentences of two local ranchers convicted of setting fires.
He served as the group’s unofficial spokesman and frequently spoke with media. Finicum’s affable but passionate demeanor made him a popular subject for on-camera interviews.
After his death and the arrests during the traffic stop, most occupiers cleared out of the wildlife preserve. A few holdouts extended the occupation to nearly six weeks before they surrendered Feb. 11.
More than two dozen people — including group leader Ammon Bundy — have been charged with conspiracy to interfere with federal workers in connection with the standoff.
Finicum and his wife, Jeanette, raised dozens of foster children, though social workers removed the kids from the couple’s home a few days after the occupation began.
He had said the foster kids were the family’s main source of income.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Robert La VOY Finicum is the HERO. We need more people like him. He took a stand against tyranny. True Americans need to take a stand even if it means shedding blood. As Patrick Henry said give me liberty or give me death.
We have allowed our servant to become our master. And now, some Establishment GOP are talking of voting for Hillary instead of Cruz or Trump because a win for either would hurt their careers.
Old , cant move to fast, Those are the people these lawmen like to shoot. Bullies of the block snuck into law enforcement like Obama snuck into the White House. You dumb -sses try walking through deep snow with out your arms flailing around, A bunch of back shooters to boot, these so called lawmen.
just like the fbi agent that shot women an children on Ruby ridge. and for what? these guys are the bottom of the barrel in law enforcement.
There is a new video taken from inside the vehicle with audio, unlike the lying Feds. The vehicle was taking fire before Finicum got out of the vehicle, He was a Hero he got out to draw fire, from the female and others in the vehicle. Watch the FBI video one guy shooting was standing very close to the vehicle , why was he not afraid someone in the vehicle would shoot him? Then A guy comes from behind Finicum and He and guy behind vehicle , ! Look they are in line of fire at each other, very Unpreffesional to say the least. But The vichle was under fire before Finicum got out. Don’t Trust the Heartless Feds, a Waco , again it is time to Burn up the phones.
I saw the video you are referring to. It was COLD BLOODED MURDER!
i say this not having seen the alleged FBI video, although i have seen a video on Youtube which claims to show Finicum’s final moments. The film i saw looked like it had been taken from a helicopter or perhaps a tree, as it was from a viewpoint above the scene.
What i saw in it was Finicum walking away from the vehicle with his arms raised. i never saw a single movement toward any pocket. What i DID see was him being hit with several bullets, at which point his arms came down…then more completely gratuitous overkill shots were fired.
Later, i saw pictures of the bullet-riddled vehicle that was purportedly driven by Finicum. Looked to me like it had been hit with well over 400 rounds, at least 75 in the windshield alone…this was AFTER the FBI apparently made on-the-record remarks that “only one” shot was fired, iirc.
This was murder, plain and simple, and by WAY more than “one” agent. i’d like to see the results of the test-firings of all weapons used by all gov’t agents on the scene, and who fired them, who fired how many shots, where and who the forensically-tested slugs hit, and etc. Then, i’d like to see everyone who killed an unarmed man with his hands up arrested, tried, and convicted of murder.