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January 28, 2016

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1 dead as arrests made in Oregon

Law enforcement officers arrested the leaders of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge as part of a dispute over public lands in the Western US, prompting gunfire and leaving one man dead during a traffic stop along a highway in Oregon鈥檚 frozen high country.

The arrest took place on Tuesday as militant leader Ammon Bundy and his followers were reportedly heading to a community meeting at the senior center in John Day, about 110 kilometers north of Burns, to address local residents to discuss their views on federal management of public lands.

Bundy鈥檚 group, which has included people from as far away as Arizona and Michigan, seized the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2. The group wants federal lands turned over to local authorities.

The confrontation came amid increasing calls for law enforcement to take action against Bundy for the illegal occupation of the wildlife refuge. They previously had taken a hands-off approach, reflecting lessons learned during bloody standoffs at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, during the 1990s.

In a statement, the FBI and Oregon State Police said agents had made a total of eight arrests on Tuesday, including Bundy.

Oregon State Police confirmed that its troopers were involved in the traffic-stop shooting. One of those arrested, described only as a man, suffered non-life-threatening wounds, the agencies said. Another man 鈥渨ho was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest鈥 died, they said. The agencies said they would not release further information pending identification by the medical examiner.

The Oregonian reported that Arizona rancher Robert 鈥淟aVoy鈥 Finicum was the person died, citing the man鈥檚 daughter. The 55-year-old was a frequent and public presence at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, often speaking for the group at news conferences.

Arianna Finicum Brown confirmed her father鈥檚 death to the paper, saying 鈥渉e would never ever want to hurt somebody, but he does believe in defending freedom and he knew the risks involved.鈥

It was unclear how many people remained in the buildings at the refuge. Late Tuesday night there was no obvious police presence there and Oregon Governor Kate Brown asked for 鈥減atience as officials continue pursuit of a swift and peaceful resolution.鈥

Brand Thornton, one of Bundy鈥檚 supporters, said he left the refuge on Monday and wasn鈥檛 sure what those remaining would do. 鈥淭he entire leadership is gone,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 blame any of them for leaving.鈥 Thornton called the arrests 鈥渁 dirty trick鈥 by law enforcement.


 

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