Accused of killing a man in cold blood, the FBI released dramatic video Thursday showing the final minutes before an armed occupier was shot dead in a clash with law enforcement.
The video, filmed from an airplane above Highway 395 near Burns, Oregon, shows a man identified as Robert “LaVoy” Finicum speeding away from officers and then swerving into a snowbank after reaching a roadblock, nearly hitting an agent.
Mr. Finicum then leaps from the driver’s seat of the white truck and appears to reach into his jacket before being shot and killed by Oregon state police.
“On at least two occasions, Finicum reaches his right hand toward the pocket on the left inside portion of his jacket. He did have a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun in that pocket,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing at a late Thursday press conference shown on KOIN-TV livestream.
“At this time, Oregon state troopers shot Finicum,” Mr. Bretzing said.
The video appears to counter the accusations made by supporters of Mr. Finicum who say he was trying to surrender when he was killed, allegations that have fueled unrest among those who sympathize with the three-week occupation at a federal wildlife refuge.
“My son Ryan had been shot in the arm. LaVoy Finicum, they cold-blooded killed him,” Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, father of occupation leaders Ammon and Ryan Bundy, told CNN.
Cliven Bundy said his son Ammon had called him from the scene immediately after the shooting.
“He said he was out, had his hands in the air, said he wasn’t armed, he wasn’t any threat, so they cold-blooded just killed him,” said Cliven Bundy.
Portions of the video were shown at the press conference, and the full video has been posted on the FBI’s YouTube page, said Mr. Bretzing.
“I think it’s very important when comments, accusations or various things are made depicting a situation that we can prove or at least clarify are inaccurate, that it’s incumbent on us where we’re able to do so to show that,” Mr. Bretzing said.
FBI agents and Oregon state police officers pulled over the militants, driving in two vehicles, as they headed Tuesday afternoon to a community meeting in John Day, Oregon.
One militant, Ryan Payne, is shown leaving the white truck with his hands up and surrendering to authorities. The truck then sits for about four minutes before speeding off toward a roadblock.
“Law enforcement showed great restraint. The vehicle then took off, you can see that it just about seriously injured a law enforcement officer as it barreled toward that barricade,” said Mr. Bretzing.
Ammon Bundy, Brian Cavalier and a third person are shown leaving the second vehicle, a Jeep, and surrendering without incident before the white truck takes off.
Five occupiers were arrested at the scene, including Ammon and Ryan Bundy. A total of 11 people have been arrested this week on federal conspiracy charges stemming from the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, which began Jan. 2.
Another six people leaving the refuge have been released after being stopped at FBI checkpoints surrounding the region, Mr. Bretzing said.
Authorities waited about 10 minutes before providing medical assistance to Mr. Finicum. They found three other loaded weapons inside the truck: two loaded .223 caliber semi-automatic rifles and a loaded .38 special revolver, Mr. Bretzing said.
He confirmed that four occupiers remain at the building and continue to negotiate with FBI agents. The holdouts are pressing to have any charges against them dropped.
Ammon Bundy, now in custody in Portland, has urged the remaining occupiers to “stand down” and return to their homes.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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