A member of the Oregon militia that has been occupying a federal building in a remote portion of the state engaged in a shootout with authorities. Robert “LaVoy” Finicum was en route from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge when he was headed off by the FBI and Oregon police, who shot and killed him.
The Oregonian reports that Finicum was killed while traveling to the town of John Day on Tuesday. Many might remember him as one of the individuals who spoke under a tarp, earning him the nickname “Tarp Man” in many media outlets. While details of Finicum’s death have been difficult to ascertain, it does appear that it played out as he has publicly stated. Finicum famously said he was “prepared to defend freedom” even at the expense of his life.
In related news, Ammon Bundy, perhaps the Oregon militia’s most well-known figure, was arrested along with five others on Tuesday after the shooting. According to still developing reports, Bundy and the group were pulled over for a routine traffic stop just north of the town of Burns. The incident became intense but seemingly ended without further incident.
Ryan Bundy, Brian Cavalier, Shawna Cox, Ryan Waylen Payne and Ammon Bundy all face charges of conspiracy to impede a federal officer by force. That charge is a federal felony. A sixth man, Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, was arrested in John Day. There were also two other arrests and an injury reported.
Cliven Bundy, the rancher militant most associate with the movement over grazing fees, seemed to revel in the news of the standoff ending in violence and praised the group’s efforts via quotes taken by the Los Angeles Times.
—
Photo: AP
