FBI releases video of Oregon shooting

The FBI late Thursday evening released a video of the car chase and shooting that killed one self-styled militia member in Oregon earlier this week.

The video, taken by a plane circling the scene, shows a prolonged car chase before the militia members’ white truck and dark Jeep crash into a snowbank to avoid hitting a line of police cars.

{mosads}The footage appears to show militia member Robert “LaVoy” Finicum reach into his pocket for what officials say is a pistol before he is shot dead by police. 

FBI officials said Finicum “made a movement” toward his pocket, which was later shown to contain a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, The Oregonian reported Thursday night. Officials didn’t say how many times Finicum was shot, or whether he actually pulled the gun out of his pocket. 

“Actions have consequences,” Oregon Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing said. “As the video clearly shows it was a reckless action that resulted in consequences you have seen here today.”

Five other occupiers involved in the traffic stop, including the group’s leaders, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to impede a police investigation. They remain jailed. 

Ammon Bundy has encouraged the remaining members of their group to vacate the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge they have held since early January. Four people are currently at the refuge, according to the FBI, after nine left following the Tuesday arrests. 

Three of those nine people were arrested at checkpoints while leaving the refuge and the other six were let free.