Widow plans to sue in wildlife refuge occupation death

Portland, Ore.- The widow of Lavoy Finicum, the Arizona rancher who was shot during the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation earlier this year, plans to sue the Oregon State Police and FBI for civil rights violations relating to his death. Jeanette Finicum’s attorney told the Oregonian/OregonLive the lawsuit has not yet been filed.

Prosecutors determined the shots fired at 54-year-old Robert “LaVoy” Finicum were “in fact, necessary.”

“All six shots fired by the Oregon State Police, the three into the truck and the three that struck Mr. Finicum, are justified,” Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said.

Claypool says evidence shows shots were fired contrary to statements made during the investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether an agent lied about firing two shots that did not hit Finicum and if four others worked to hide it later.

Jeanette Finicum has said in a statement that her “husband was murdered.” A family statement said Finicum was “executed in cold blood.”