Footage from the FBI showing the deadly shooting of Lavoy Finicum released on Thursday night has resulted in Americans speculating whether the use of deadly force was justified.
Those questioning the actions of FBI agents include Ryan Bundy’s wife, Angela, who has since spoken to her husband who is being held in custody in Portland following the incident.
She describes Ryan as being, “really shaken up about LaVoy. He was a good family friend and he was upset. He shed tears over his death.”
Angela went on to say Ryan told her, “It was so senseless. We weren’t out to hurt anybody. We were there to help and be there to do good and teach. We weren’t there to hurt anybody.”
Ryan Bundy was inside the truck with several other people when it crashed into a snowbank following a road block set up by law enforcement on U.S. 395. The group was originally heading to John Day, Oregon to meet with city officials before the attempted traffic stop.
Footage shows Finicum exiting the vehicle and stepping into the snowbank following the crash before being shot. Angela who has seen the footage explained, “The video is clear to me. And everyone is speculating about the video, but it’s clear to me, number one, that he wasn’t trying to not hurt anyone by driving into the snowbank. Number two, he was right armed. It doesn’t make sense he would be grabbing his left side for his gun. He wore his gun on his right hip.” She went on to say, “We need better video coverage of this to really analyze it. I mean we have a million theories out there going. The truth of the matter, my husband [Ryan] was getting barraged by bullets. His head was on the ground of the truck. In fact he had that young girl with him [Victoria Sharp] and was trying to shield her to make sure she wouldn’t get hit. He took one himself. So obviously, bullets were flying.”
Officials maintain Finicum was armed and reaching for his waistband resulting in FBI agents shooting him.
"He did have a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the pocket," said Greg Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Portland.
A federal judge said on Thursday from Portland she is refusing to release any of the individuals arrested while the occupation continues according to The Oregonian.
Idaho On Your Side morning anchor, Jillian Garrigues, spoke to Angela in the Soundcloud link below.
