The nearly month-long White militia terrorists’ occupation at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge has come to a violent end. The FBI initiated a takedown of the militia members late Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the arrest of ringleader Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, Brian Cavalier, Shawna Cox and Ryan Payne. According to the FBI, the militia members were in route to a nearby community when they were stopped by law enforcement. A gunfight ensued and LaVoy Finicum was killed after firing on the police and FBI agents. It is unclear whether the FBI or the militia members fired first.
The members of the White militia terrorist group are being charged with a federal felony of conspiracy to impede U.S. officers from “discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 372.”
The FBI released the following statement:
“At approximately 6:30 p.m. (PST), the FBI arrested Peter Santilli, age 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Burns, Oregon. He faces the same federal felony charge as the individuals listed below. The arrest was without incident. At approximately 4:25 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Oregon State Police (OSP) began an enforcement action to bring into custody a number of individuals associated with the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. During that arrest, there were shots fired. One individual who was a subject of a federal probable cause arrest is deceased. We will not be releasing any information about that person pending identification by the medical examiner’s office. One individual suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was arrested and is currently in custody.
The arrested individuals include:Ammon Edward Bundy, age 40, of Emmett, Idaho, Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada, Brian Cavalier, age 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada, Shawna Cox, age 59, Kanab, Utah and Ryan Waylen Payne, age 32, of Anaconda, Montana.. These probable cause arrests occurred along Highway 395. In a separate event in Burns, Oregon, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Oregon State Police arrested the following individual:Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, age 45, Cottonwood, Arizona.All of the named defendants face a federal felony charge of 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. We continue to work with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward and his deputies; Oregon State Police; and the United States Attorney’s Office to address any further outstanding issues. As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time. All defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
