The FBI was “hellbent on war.”
Ammon Bundy, the leader of a group of protesters occupying federal land in eastern Oregon, was taken into custody Tuesday night and the group’s spokesman, Robert “Layoy” Finicum was shot dead by law enforcement.
One of Finicum’s daughter’s claims the circumstances surrounding her father’s death make those involved guilty of murder.
The FBI and Oregon State Police arrested Ammon Bundy, 40, his brother Ryan, 43, Brian Cavalier, 44, Shawna Cox, 59, and Ryan Payne, 32, at around 4:25 p.m. local time on U.S. Highway 395, according to Fox News. The group was reportedly traveling to the town of John Day, approximately 70 miles from where their protest is taking place in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, when they were pulled over.
Three others who participated in the the standoff with the federal government over land use were also arrested: Joseph O’Shaughnessy, 45, and Peter Santilli, 50, were arrested in the nearby town of Burns, Ore., and Jon Ritzheimer, 32, turned himself in to the Peoria, Arizona, police department.
The FBI states that all eight men face federal felony charge of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats.
Fox News reports it is not clear what the circumstances were regarding the arrest of Bundy’s group, which resulted in shots being fired and the death of Finicum. The protest group wrote on its Facebook page:
“Levoy Finicum was Shot and murdered in Cold blood today in Burns Oregon by the FBI and State Law enforcement. He had his hands up and was shot 3 Times. This Man Is one of the best Patriots, Husband, Father, Grandfather, friend and Neighbor, that this world will ever know. Spread this far and wide!”
A Facebook account reportedly operated by one of Finicum’s 11 children, Thara Tenney, also said Finicum was cooperating, according to Fox.
“I want the world to know how my father was murdered today,” Tenney’s post said. “His hands were in the air and he was shot in the face by the American authorities. Ammon Bundy reported there are six witnesses to this evil.”
With the group’s leaders in custody, and one dead, it’s unknown whether the occupation will continue to play out over the next hours and days.
Read the Original Article at Western Journalism
