Oregon standoff: Video of LaVoy Finicum's death fuels rampant rumors, debate
Source: Oregonlive, The Oregonian
Robert 'LaVoy' Finicum shooting in slow-motion
The FBI footage that shows the shooting of Robert 'LaVoy' Finicum prompted further questions about his death. This video shows the moments leading up to and after Finicum's death in slow motion.
BURNS -- In a rare move, the FBI on Thursday released footage of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum's fatal shooting two days earlier at the hands of Oregon State Police troopers.
It's unusual for law enforcement agencies to release video footage of police shootings so quickly. Doing so, FBI officials hoped, would dispel rumors about Finicum's death.
...
For those inclined to believe the police account of the shooting – that Finicum was shot after resisting arrest on a remote highway between Burns and John Day – the grainy, soundless video offered confirmation.
Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/oregon_standoff_video_of_lavoy.html#incart_maj-story-1
Oregonlive at the link above has a slow-motion excerpt of the LaVoy Finicum shooting which is a lot clearer than earlier versions published. Unfortunately it can't be embedded here.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Militias (shadowy white right wing terroristic groups) and Finicum partisans are pushing the story of from the 18 yo singer who said he raised his hands. They say he was murdered and shot in the back. The facts are otherwise, though she is right that he did raise his hands. But he was extremely stupid.
1) Finicum publicly swore he would not be arrested alive. Suicidal martyrdom death wish. On tape on multiple occasions, aired on multiple media many times before that fatal day. His four remaining foster kids were removed from his ranch. By his own admission they were his source of income. He had backed himself into a situation where he didn't have much to live for. "I have no intention of spending any of my days in a concrete box.”
2) Finicum was always armed, as frequently seen in videos and attested to by his comrades.
3) Finicum evaded arrest and drove away from a properly organized traffic stop. Stupid.
4) He drove too fast to stop in time and plowed off the road at the road block. Lost control and use of his vehicle. Not the brightest move.
5) He was the only one to exit the vehicle. Not smart.
6) The partisans claim he was flailing in the snow as he was walking. It is easy to see that the snow was not too deep.
7) In an armed law enforcement stop like that you stop walking. It's the obvious thing to do. Finicum did not stop walking.
7) He raises his hands, but not in submission. He is gesticulating and gesturing wildly.
8) Eye witness reports from group members inside his truck say he was not submissive in any way. He shouted "shoot me ... just shoot me".
9) Even after all that he was not shot. Not until he actually made threatening moves. LEOs were very restrained and patient.
10) The video shows clearly enough that he was shot as he was turning toward the LEO at the left side. Finicum was either shot in the side or the left front. Finicum falls backward, not like when people are shot in the back but like when they are shot in the front.
11) The video shows clearly enough that Finicum first looked down at his waist area and fiddled with his jacket there as if readying a weapon. Even children know that is a stupid move in an armed confrontation with Law Enforcement, let alone experienced 55 yo gun loving ranchers. Then after more gesturing he does it again as he turns toward the LEO.
Summary: a man with little left to lose intent on suicide by cop does several things to ensure that outcome.
Note the ammunition in his belt:
taught by hate radio and the Republicans to think and act like this. It's as if they are all hyponotized by their own negative feedback loops. The danger they pose to others is the sad thing, not what they do to themselves.
LaVoy lives on to epitomize how far astray the wingnuts have been led.
