PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The FBI released video showing the arrest of militia leader Ammon Bundy and the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum along Highway 395 in a dramatic press conference Tuesday afternoon.
The FBI and the Oregon State Police intercepted militia leaders as they left the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on their way to a community meeting in John Day.
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. There was an FBI plane taking video from above.
Law enforcement intercepted the vehicles at 4:25 p.m. The entire operation took about 25 minutes
“I want to caution you that the video does show the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum. 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.
The FBI and OSP pulled in behind the Jeep, the second vehicle in line. The Jeep pulled over quickly, but the white truck, driven by Finicum, kept driving for a short distance.
The people in the Jeep — Ammon Bundy, Brian Cavalier and the driver, who was not charged or named — exited the Jeep and surrendered without incident.
Unedited video of the incident posted on the FBI’s YouTube page:
The white truck then stopped and Ryan Payne got out through a back door with his hands up. He was taken into custody.
Video then shows the truck sitting on the road for about 4 minutes. Bretzing said the FBI and OSP were “providing verbal commands to the occupants to surrender.” But the truck, with Finicum still behind the wheel, took off at a high rate of speed.
It traveled some distance before Finicum apparently swerved to miss a spike strip and tried to drive around a roadblock. Finicum then went off the road to the left and nearly hit an FBI agent in the process. The white truck then got stuck in the snowbank.
Video shows Finicum getting out of the truck. He reached his right hand toward a pocket on the left inside part of his jacket before being shot dead by an OSP trooper.
Bretzing said Finicum had a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in that pocket.
Flash bangs were then used about 30 seconds later to “disorient any other armed occupants” of the white truck. Authorities then used sponge projectiles with “OC capsules similar to pepper spray.”
After a few minutes, Ryan Bundy, Shawna Cox and another woman — who was not arrested or named — were taken out of the truck and into custody.
To ensure there were no remaining threats, the FBI and OSP waited about 10 minutes to provide Finicum with medical assistance.
“Agents and troopers did find 3 other loaded weapons inside the truck. They included two loaded .223 caliber semi-automatic rifles. There was also one loaded .38 special revolver,” Bretzing said.
Bretzing said there are 4 occupiers who remain at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, but 9 people recently left. He said the FBI released 6 and arrested 3.
The FBI removed barricades and reopened highways surrounding the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns on Thursday afternoon, officials confirm. Highway 205 and Highway 78 are now open to traffic. The road blocks are being consolidated to accommodate local residents and ranchers.
However, the refuge remains closed.
