Via The Guardian:
An associate of the armed Oregon militia occupying a wildlife refuge was shot dead on Tuesday after a shootout with federal agents that resulted in the arrest of the group’s leader Ammon Bundy and a group of protesters.
The shootout appears to have taken place on a highway in rural Oregon – away from the federal refuge the armed militia have been occupying.
FBI officials said they arrested Bundy, his brother Ryan Bundy, Bryan Cavalier, Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne on Tuesday afternoon after they stopped them along the highway.
The agency described the shootout and arrests as resulting from “an enforcement action to bring into custody a number of individuals associated with the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge” that occurred at 4.25pm PST.
TPM has more details on the shooting:
CNN and the Oregonian reported Tuesday night that LaVoy Finicum, 54, was killed. When law enforcement officials intercepted the vehicle carrying several militia leaders, most surrendered, according to CNN. However, police told CNN that Ryan Bundy and Finicum did not. Law enforcement told CNN they were not clear on who opened fire first. Bundy did not suffer life threatening injuries.
The arrested are facing Federal felony charges of “conspiracy to impede officers through the use of force, intimidation or threats”.
I’m not sure what these arrests will lead to. Will the remaining militia members surrender and/or go home, or will they hunker down and prepare to retaliate? I have a bad feeling about this, and I do think law enforcement allowed this situation to go on far too long. I have trouble envisioning a scenario where the militia packs up and leaves peacefully without achieving any of their goals. They came armed for a fight and over the past few weeks have pushed the envelope toward confrontation – removing fences, threatening citizens, convening their own court, etc..
Yeah, I have a really bad feeling. I hope I’m wrong about where this is headed.