Ammon Bundy and seven other protesters were arrested Tuesday night for their roles in the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. One member of the group was killed during a confrontation with police.
The group was stopped along Highway 395, north of Burns, at around 4:25 p.m., according to the FBI. NBC News reports the man killed was 54-year-old LaVoy Finicum, a rancher from Arizona.
The network reported via an unnamed law enforcement source that officials decided to make the arrests when they learned the protest leaders would be leaving the refuge for a meeting in John Day. The arrests were made about 45 miles north of the refuge.
Nine people were in two vehicles. They both stopped, but the lead vehicle sped away, the source told NBC. The vehicle hit a snowbank and Finicum jumped out “brandishing a firearm.” He was shot and killed.
Ryan Bundy was shot in the arm and treated at a local hospital, NBC News reported.
Law enforcement personnel were not injured, according to Oregon State Police.
In addition to the Bundy brothers, police arrested Brian Cavalier of Bunkerville, Nevada; Shawna Cox of Kanab, Utah; and Ryan Payne of Anaconda, Montana.
Three others not involved in the traffic stop were also arrested.
During the police activity, a 56-mile stretch of U.S. 395 between Burns and John Day was closed near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The St. Charles Bend Hospital was placed into lockdown and an Airlink helicopter was sent to Harney County on standby, but the hospital did not receive any patients, a hospital spokeswoman said. The hospital stayed in lockdown overnight.
A community meeting with Bundy and fellow protesters was scheduled for Tuesday night in John Day.
The armed takeover was in its 24th day. Leaders said they would not leave the refuge until the government released two ranchers from prison and turned federal land over to local authorities.
Bundy is the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a high-profile 2014 standoff with the government over grazing rights.
The FBI and Oregon State Police have initiated a containment of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in order to better ensure the safety of community members and law enforcement. The containment procedure involves a series of checkpoints established along key routes into and out of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
The FBI said there will be signage ahead of each checkpoint. Anyone who moves beyond that signage will be stopped, identified and asked leave. Non-compliant people will be subject to arrest.
Anyone coming out of the refuge will have his or her identification confirmed and any associated vehicles searched.
The only people allowed to pass into the checkpoints will be Harney County ranchers who own property in those specific areas. They will be required to show photo ID as they go in and out.
The law enforcement partners involved in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. this morning to provide the public with updates on the situation.
