BURNS, Ore. (AP) — The newspaper The Oregonian reports that an Arizona rancher was killed when authorities arrested leaders of an armed group that has been occupying a national wildlife refuge. The arrests occurred during a traffic stop, and shots were fired.
Authorities did not identify the person killed, saying only that it was an adult male who died in an “officer involved shooting” during law officers’ confrontation with Ammon Bundy and his followers during a traffic stop outside Burns, Oregon.
However Arianna Finicum Brown told the Portland, Oregon, newspaper that the man killed was her father, Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, 55, of Cane Beds, Arizona. LaVoy Finicum was a frequent and public presence at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, often speaking for the group at news conferences.
The FBI says there were eight arrests, including Ammon Bundy, 40, his brother Ryan Bundy, 43, Brian Cavalier, 44, Shawna Cox, 59, and Ryan Payne, 32. Those arrested face felony charges of conspiracy to impede federal officials in their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats.
The Harney County Sheriff’s Office said no law enforcement personnel were injured.
Bundy’s group, which has included people from as far away as Arizona and Michigan, seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 2 as part of a long-running dispute over public lands in the West.
Bundy is the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a high-profile 2014 standoff with the government over grazing rights.
