Justice

What You Need to Know About the 7 Detained Oregon Militia Members

January 27th 2016

On Tuesday evening, eight members of the militia occupying a remote federal building in Oregon were stopped as they drove to a community meeting in nearby John Day. One member, LaVoy Finicum, a spokesperson for the group, was shot and killed after he allegedly charged at law enforcement, according to a video message posted by another member.

The traffic stop was a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies to end the weeks-long occupation peacefully — the latest and most substantial action against the militia members to date.

At around 2 a.m. Wednesday, seven members were booked at the Multnomah County Jail by the U.S. Marshall Service on federal charges. They will be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Portland's U.S. District Court. Here's what you need to know about the militia members in custody.

Related: Shots Reported in Burns, Oregon Near Militia Occupation

Ammon and Ryan Bundy

Ammon BundyMCSO - mcso.usRyan BundyMCSO - mcso.us

As the leader of the group, Ammon Bundy was one of the most-publicized members occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Ammon, with his brother Ryan Bundy, made headlines when they showed up at the remote building in southeastern Oregon earlier in January because they lent the occupation some gravity and gave it a historical context. In 2014, the two brothers were involved in another standoff with federal authorities in Nevada on the ranch of their father, Cliven Bundy.

Ryan Payne

Ryan PayneMCSO - mcso.us

Payne, a militia leader from Montana, was also involved in the Bundy ranch standoff in 2014, and served as a key planner and organizer during the occupation at Malheur. Along with Ammon Bundy, Payne, a 32-year-old Iraq war veteran, planned the spontaneuous-seeming occupation at Malheur for months in advance, the Oregonian reported.

Brian Cavalier

Brian CavalierMCSO - mcso.us

Brian Cavalier, known as "Booda," was also involved in the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada, and acted as a self-described "personal bodyguard," according to reports. Cavalier had been convicted in the past of a misdemeanor theft in 2014 in Arizona, and another DUI misdemeanor in 2005.

Shawna Cox

Shawna CoxMCSO - mcso.us

A Utah native, Cox was seen in a press conference at the Malheur refuge. She also was present at the 2014 Nevada standoff, which she reportedly described as being "the beginning of taking America back," according to the New York Times.

Peter Santilli

Peter SantilliMCSO - mcso.us

Santilli was notable for his role as the self-described journalist in the group, running independent broadcasts, and even live-streaming the apparent arrest of Ammon Bundy on Tuesday. According to the Oregonian, Santilli also was involved in broadcasting during the Nevada standoff, at which he was present. He was arrested in Burns on Tuesday.

Joseph O'Shaughnessy

Joseph O'ShaughnessyMCSO - mcso.us

Consistent with all of the others taken into custody on Tuesday, O'Shaughnessy had been present at the 2014 Bundy standoff. The Arizona man, who was seen in pictures with the occupation's main organizers, was also apparently involved with militia groups along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Oregonian reports.

Jon RitzheimerOregonian - oregonlive.com

Another suspect, Jon Ritzheimer, was arrested in Arizona in connection with the occupation. Ritzheimer, who had previously been involved in anti-Muslim protests, will appear in Oregon at a later date to face charges, law enforcement officials said at a news conference Wednesday.

[h/t The Oregonian]

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