LaVoy Finicum
| LaVoy Finicum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Robert LaVoy Finicum January 27, 1961 Kanab, Utah, United States |
| Died | January 26, 2016 (aged 54) Harney County, Oregon, United States |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Resting place | Kanab, Utah |
| Residence | Chino Valley, Arizona |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Main income as foster parent, also cattle rancher |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | At least 15: 4 with 1st wife; 11 with 3rd wife |
| Parent(s) | David Finicum, Nelda Finicum |
Robert LaVoy Finicum (January 27, 1961 – January 26, 2016) was a spokesman for the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, who seized and occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Oregon, United States, on January 2, 2016.
On January 26, 2016, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Finicum and other occupation leaders while they were traveling on a remote highway away from the occupation site. After fleeing the officers, Finicum was stopped by a roadblock, where he challenged officers to shoot him. He was shot and killed by state troopers while moving his hands toward his pocket, where officers later found a loaded weapon.
Prior to the occupation, Finicum lived in Arizona where he was a professional foster parent and operated a no-income cattle ranch.
According to the High Country News, "the public record on Finicum is thin prior to 2014."
In 2002, Finicum filed for bankruptcy while living in New Mexico and doing business as "Southwest Horse and Trails". By 2008, Finicum operated a foster home for troubled boys near Chino Valley, Arizona. According to a 2010 tax filing, Catholic Charities Community Services in Arizona paid the family US$115,343 to foster children in 2009. In January 2016, the state removed all of Finicum's foster children due to his involvement with the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (discussed below). Finicum said this took away his family's main source of income.
During that time, Finicum also operated a ranch that did not produce income. After the state removed his foster children, Finicum told the media, "My ranch, well, the cows just cover the costs of the ranch."
In August 2015, Finicum decided to cease complying with the terms of his grazing permit with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). At the time, he released a YouTube video in which he claimed it was unconstitutional for the federal government to own BLM lands and said he was inspired by Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and events surrounding the 2014 Bundy standoff. In less than six months, Finicum accrued more than US$12,000 in fees and fines, which he refused to pay.
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Wikipedia