Arizona Rancher Killed In Oregon Standoff

By Laurel Morales
January 27, 2016
Robert
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Robert "LaVoy" Finicum

An Arizona rancher was reportedly killed in a standoff with Oregon State Police on Tuesday. Eight others who took over a federal building for almost a month are in custody.

During a traffic stop that resulted in gunfire, Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, a Mohave County rancher, was shot and killed, according to the Oregonian newspaper. He, along with Ammon and Ryan Bundy, were on their way to meet with Oregon ranchers. 

“He was a very passionate man, strongly believed what he believed, and stood up for it, and was ready to go to jail for it,” said Jim Parks, a long-time Arizona rancher who knew Finicum.

Parks said he disagrees with the militant group’s tactics. 

“It disturbs me that this standoff in Oregon couldn’t come to a peaceful conclusion,” Finicum said. “I feel that is wrong, despite the fact that those men were wrong in taking over the government building.”

The armed men have been protesting what they see as federal government overreach of ranch land. More than a quarter of the United States is federal land, much of it in the West.