The leaders of the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, including Ammon Bundy, have been arrested after a shootout with law enforcement officials about 15 miles north of Burns on Tuesday night.
One of the militia members was shot and killed during the confrontation, and though the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, many reports on the ground indicate that the deceased is LaVoy Finicum, who spoke at length about how he would rather die than be taken into custody. State Rep. Michele Fiore (R‑Nevada), who speaks directly to the Bundy family, has confirmed Finicum was the casualty in the shootout.
Also among those arrested were Ryan W. Payne, Brian Cavalier, and Shawna J. Cox. They have all been charged with felony counts of impeding officers of the US from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats. Ryan Bundy of Bunkerville, Nevada, suffered a minor gunshot wound but is in stable condition and is expected to be charged with the others.
The FBI, Oregon State troopers, and other law enforcement agencies were all involved in the gunfight and subsequent arrest, but it is unclear who shot first.
The incident apparently began with a traffic stop that occurred while Bundy and his supporters made a trip to a meeting in the neighboring town of John Day. Highway 395 has been temporarily closed between Burns and John Day.
Harney District Hospital, where some of the militants involved in the gunfight have been treated, is also on lockdown.
In a separate incident the same night, Oregon Police arrested Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, a supporter of the Bundy occupation.
Ammon Bundy, along with dozens of other armed right-wing extremists, occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan 2 to protest the government’s treatment of Steven and Dwight Hammond, local ranchers who were convicted of committing arson on federal land adjacent to their property. The Hammonds declined Bundy’s support, and the armed militia group has been criticized and derided by the vast majority of locals in the area. They have also found themselves subject toconfrontations with rival groups, interior conflicts and fistfights, and pranks from detractors as they have continued their occupation.