LaVoy Finicum

LaVoy Finicum
Finicum at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January 2016
Born
Robert LaVoy Finicum

(1961-01-27)January 27, 1961
Kanab, Utah, U.S.[1]
DiedJanuary 26, 2016(2016-01-26) (aged 54)
Harney County, Oregon, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wounds[2]
Resting placeKanab, Utah
Occupation(s)Main income as foster parent, also cattle rancher[3]
Spouses
Kelly Whatcott
​
​
(m. 1983; div. 1989)​
[4][5]
Dorthea Jeannette
​
​
(m. 1994)​
[1]
Children11[1]
Parent(s)David Finicum, Nelda Finicum[6]

Robert LaVoy Finicum (January 27, 1961 – January 26, 2016) was one of the American militants who staged an armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January 2016. After it began, the occupying force organized itself as the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, of which Finicum was a spokesman. He was the only fatality of the occupation.

On January 26, 2016, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Finicum and other occupation leaders while they were traveling on a remote highway to meet with supporters in the next county. When Finicum's truck was finally stopped by a roadblock, he exited the vehicle into deep snow and was fired upon, but the officers missed. Finicum then made two motions to his jacket while yelling at police that they would have to shoot him, which they did. Finicum died on scene and officers later found a loaded weapon in his pocket.[7][8]

Before the occupation, Finicum lived in Arizona where he made a living as a foster parent and operated a no-income cattle ranch.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Brosseau, Carli. "Mourners assemble for LaVoy Finicum funeral in Kanab, Utah today as Oregon standoff continues". The Oregonian.
  2. ^ Nelson, Clifford C. (January 28, 2016). "Robert L. Finicum" (PDF). Harney County Medical Examiner's Office (Autopsy report). Burns, Oregon. 16-0092. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ProFosterParent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Njus, Elliot (February 23, 2016) [1st pub. February 4, 2016]. "LaVoy Finicum, rancher killed in Oregon occupation, spent time as Portland apartment manager". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  5. ^ Friedman, Gordon; Eversley, Melanie (January 27, 2016). "1 killed as feds move in, arrest protest leader Ammon Bundy". USA Today. Tysons Corner, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  6. ^ Bernstein, Maxine. "Crowd of 500, including some Oregon standoff defendants, salute Robert 'LaVoy' Finicum". The Oregonian.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference OSP_Tri-County_Reports was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Video showing two camera angles of LaVoy Finicum shooting" on YouTube