Shots Fired, One Dead, Seven Arrested - Harney County Standoff

Burns, OR- During a traffic stop on Tuesday January 26, at about 4:25 p m, along a stretch of Highway 395 in southwestern Oregon, which runs between Burns and John Day, shots were fired, and Arizona rancher Robert Lavoy Finicum was killed by law enforcement.

Although Oregon State Police have not released specifics about the shooting incident which occurred during the traffic stop, Steve Bundy (Ammon and Ryan Bundy’s brother) said he was informed that Finicum was laying on his back, at the side of the road, with his hands in the air yelling repeatedly “I’m unarmed, I’m unarmed” as he was shot three times. Ryan Bundy was also shot in the shoulder during the stop, but sources have confirmed his injuries on not life threatening.

Arrested at the scene were; Ammon Edward Bundy, age 40, of Emmett, Idaho, Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada, Brian “Booda” Cavalier, age 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada, Shawna Cox, age 59, Kanab, Utah, and Ryan Waylen Payne, age 32, of Anaconda, Montana.

The group of six was on their way to a public meeting in John Day, Oregon, to discuss federal land management policies. The reason for the traffic stop, cited in a joint press release from OSP and the FBI was “probable cause”. The press release also stated that during the stop “there were shots fired” and that “One individual who was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest is deceased.” Unconfirmed reports from an eye witness have stated that the first shots were fired by the FBI.

According to a spokesman for Pacific Patriot Network, Sgt. Major Joseph Santoro, U.S. Army retired, said he and three others from PPN; B.J. Soaper, Brandon Curtis, and Joseph Rice were contacted by the FBI at 4:37 pm and informed of the arrests and shooting. They were initially told “shots fired, two down”. Sgt. Major Santoro said the FBI wanted to get the information to them because they wanted to avert a situation where 5,000 or more patriots descend on the area with the potential of further escalation.

Santoro said he was told by FBI that they were ordered by the justice department to make the arrests. Santoro said it was at the order of the “White House”. He also said that so far the town was remaining calm, cool and collected and that PPN was determined to “work with the FBI to the best of their ability to assure a calm, peaceful, resolution”.  Santoro said they are not planning any type of response and that they are “in a holding pattern”.

According to what the FBI told PPN, “Those remaining at the refuge are free to leave, and that no arrests would be made”.

In a separate traffic stop, in Burns Oregon, at about 5:50 pm, Joseph Donald O'Shaughnessy, age 45, Cottonwood, Arizona, was also arrested without incident. Also in Burns at approximately 6:30 pm, the FBI arrested Peter Santilli, age 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He faces the same federal felony charge as the all of the named defendants; conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372. 

At this time no information is available as to the possible penalties for the alleged charges, or whether or not any of the defendants will be eligible for bail. According to sources they are being held at the Harney County Jail. 

The family of Robert Lavoy Finicum has been notified of his death. Finicum was the father of 11 foster children which he and his wife were raising on their ranch in Arizona. Finicum has also been engaged in a battle over the rights on his land in Arizona.

One source who was in Burns told the Beacon that in spite of what happened today “We’re not stopping, we’re going to get that land back” and despite the tactics used today “We’re going to do it the peaceful way.”

PPN issued an official statement on their website Tuesday evening that asks for a calm approach to today’s tragic events and is issuing a “Stand By Order to all those mobilizing to the peaceful city of Burns, Oregon.”