The FBI has released video footage from Shawan Cox’s cell phone that was recorded from inside Oregon militiaman Robert Lavoy Finicum’s truck just before and after he tried to blow through a police roadblock during a high-speed chase on January 26.
In the footage, Finicum, Ryan Bundy, Shawna Cox and Victoria Sharp clearly ignore officers’ requests to step out of the vehicle. Finicum then can be heard telling officials to “go ahead and shoot,” before eventually taking off in the vehicle.
According to Oregon Live, an FBI agent is suspected of lying about firing twice at Finicum and may have covered up the discrepancy with four other FBI agents afterward, authorities revealed Tuesday.
From Oregon Live:
The bullets didn’t hit Finicum and didn’t contribute to his death, but now all five unnamed agents, part of an elite national unit, are under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Inspector General Michael Horowitz is leading the independent inquiry.
The findings came as local investigators revealed that two state troopers shot Finicum three times in the back at the police roadblock. One bullet pierced his heart, an autopsy showed.
A prosecutor ruled the fatal shooting was legally justified, saying state law allows use of deadly force when officers believe a person is about to seriously injure or kill someone. Finicum kept moving his hands toward a pocket that contained a loaded handgun. Although he was shot from behind, Finicum had a trooper in front of him armed with a Taser who was thought to be in danger.
Below is a synced video released by law enforcement, showing the footage from inside the truck alongside police helicopter footage (some viewers may find the images distressing):
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