FBI agents investigated over shots fired during Oregon standoff

PORTLAND, Ore. -- FBI agents involved in the traffic stop that led to the killing of one of the armed occupiers of a national wildlife refuge are under investigation for not disclosing they fired shots that missed rancher Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, an Oregon sheriff said Tuesday.

Oregon State Troopers fired the rounds that killed Finicum on Jan. 26, authorities said.

All six of their shots were justified because Finicum failed to heed officers' commands and repeatedly reached for his weapon, Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said.

Finicum helped lead a standoff at an Oregon national wildlife refuge earlier this year.

A county prosecutor on Tuesday released the results of an investigation into the death of Finicum. Oregon State Police opened fire during the traffic stop that also led to the arrests of the occupation's leaders.

Still, it was of concern that FBI agents on the scene did not disclose they also fired shots, Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson said at a news conference.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement it is investigating FBI agents' actions during the confrontation with Finicum, 54.

The FBI previously released video of the shooting to counter claims Finicum did nothing to provoke it.

In the aerial footage, Finicum is pulled over in his truck but then takes off and plows into a snowbank. He gets out and has his hands up at first, then appears to reach toward his jacket pocket at least twice. Officers shoot him, and he falls.

The FBI said it found a loaded handgun in the pocket.

After the shooting, Finicum's daughter called him a martyr.

"He loved freedom obviously more than his life," Challice Finch told Dallas-Fort Worth TV station KXAS.

The occupation by ranchers and others began on Jan. 2 and grew to several dozen people, demanding that the federal government turn public lands over to local control.