DESCHUTES CO., Ore. (KOIN) — Cell phone video recorded by Ryan Bundy right before LaVoy Finicum was shot and killed during a standoff between authorities and refuge occupiers in January was released Tuesday.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office released the 2-part cell phone video on its YouTube page. The FBI previously released aerial footage showing the fatal encounter.
“Go ahead, put the bullet through me. I don’t care, I’m going to meet the sheriff,” Finicum says in the video. “Back down or you kill me now.”
Another cell phone video taken by occupier Shawna Cox showed the same encounter.
“They’re shooting at us,” another person says in the second video. “I think they’ve killed LaVoy… we’re hunkered down in here trying not to get shot.
Authorities determined the Oregon State Police troopers who shot and killed Finicum were justified in doing so. Both troopers reportedly said they shot him because they believed he was reaching for his gun. A 9mm handgun was found inside his jacket.
