Arizona rancher dies in Oregon standoff, 2 others from state face federal charges
Jan 27, 2016, 7:33 AM | Updated: Jan 28, 2016, 9:45 pm
In this Jan. 6, 2016 file photo, Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum carries his rifle after standing guard all night at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore. The FBI and Oregon State Police arrested the leaders of an armed group that has occupied a national wildlife refuge for the past three weeks during a traffic stop that prompted gunfire, and one death, along a highway through the frozen high country. The Oregonian reported that Finicum was the person killed, citing the man's daughter. (AP photo/Rick Bowmer)
(AP photo/Rick Bowmer)
PHOENIX — An Arizona rancher was killed and at least two other Arizonans were arrested as a standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge between armed activists and federal and state authorities came to an end late Tuesday night.
The daughter of Robert “LaVoy” Finicum told the Oregonian that the man officers shot after a traffic stop near Burns, Oregon, was her 55-year-old father, of Cane Beds, Arizona.
Oregon State Police said a “man who was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest” had been killed.
Authorities have not specifically said what led to the shooting or if any of the ranchers shots at officers.
On Jan. 5, Finicum told reporters at the refuge that he learned there was a warrant for his arrest. With rifle in hand, he said he would die before spending the last of his days in a cell.
Arianna Finicum Brown told the newspaper that her father, “… would never ever want to hurt somebody, but he does believe in defending freedom and he knew the risks involved.”
At least two other Arizonans were arrested on federal charges — Joseph D. O’Shaughnessy, 45, of Cottonwood and Jon Eric Ritzheimer, 32.
Joseph D. O’Shaughnessy left, and Jon Eric Ritzheimer booking photos.
O’Shaughnessy was not arrested during the confrontation on the highway.
Ritzheimer, who had been among the occupiers at one point, turned himself over to police in Peoria, Arizona, the FBI said. He led an anti-Muslim protest in Phoenix last year.
#Breaking: Joint statement by the FBI and Oregon State Police on law enforcement activity near Burns, Oregon https://t.co/A6HBh9AeWd
— FBI Portland (@FBIPortland) January 27, 2016
Also arrested was group leader Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan Bundy, sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.
The standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge began on Jan. 2, when the Bundy brothers and a group of men occupied the site’s headquarters in protest over public lands.
The arrested men face a felony charge of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats.
Officials believe some activists remained at the preserve and had set up checkpoints there.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
