Finicum did exactly nothing positive the entire way, and plenty to hurt the others. Bragging that he was armed and wouldn’t be taken alive was stupid. Running from the cops was stupid. Endangering officers at the roadblock was stupid. Jumping out of the car and running like an idiot not following lawful commands was stupid. Making a move toward his formerly displayed and bragged upon gun was really stupid and ended his life.
Good post.
The officers who shot Finicum were briefed that morning about where he wore his weapon and that he previously told the media he wouldn’t be taken alive. This wasn’t some spur of the moment arrest attempt.
“Jumping out of the car and running like an idiot not following lawful commands was stupid. Making a move toward his formerly displayed and bragged upon gun was really stupid and ended his life.”
Roadblocks of that nature are illegal under well established federal case law regarding deadly force. It was on a highway, around a blind corner, with no escape route. This is more something you see in Iraq or in a 1930s cop movie. The very use of one IS deadly force just as if you started shooting. The use of one was unjustified use of deadly force.
He jumped out of the truck because they were shooting rounds into it. Staying in there to get murdered would have been stupid. Also exiting the truck was brave, maybe they won’t murder his companions if he gets away from them.
And he did not make a move for the gun on his belt under his heavy coat. Someone started shooting him with bean bags. Arms flailed at the hit and as he stumbled in deep snow. That’s what happens when you shoot someone with impact rounds. Those cops murdered him, plain and simple.
And the coward agents from F-troop didn’t even have the balls to own up to the shots they fired.
Justify his murder all you want. Lavoy had not and did not threaten anyone or commit a violent crime. He wasnt a killer or bank robber. He simply stated his intent to attempt to meet with the county sheriff. The Feds did not want to allow that.
https://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/oregon_standoff_sheriffs_stanc.html
Sheriff Palmer said it was a deliberate ambush. Set in an area with no cell, and around a curve with no chance for someone to successfully stop before impact at legal highways speeds. Under federal case law on deadly force, that in itself IS a use of deadly force.
There is a reason hard roadblocks are not used by cops these days unless deadly force is already justified.
Finicum should have accepted his instant guilty verdict, his no right to assemble, his no right to self defense, and Finicum should have accepted his sentence of death by a firing squad of two.
He should have accepted it all like a real man.