• U.S.
  • oregon

Oregon Occupier Warns FBI He’d Take Death Over Jail

1 minute read

One of the armed protesters occupying a federal wildlife refuge in rural Oregon said he would rather die defending the building than be arrested by the FBI.

The standoff at the remote headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 250 miles from Portland, entered its fifth day Wednesday.

While law enforcement has not attempted to recapture the outpost, the FBI is leading efforts to resolve the impasse and several of the occupiers said they believe there are arrest warrants against them.

Asked if he would rather be killed than be arrested — were the standoff to turn violent — 54-year-old occupier LaVoy Finicum, said: “Absolutely … I have no intention of spending any of my days in a concrete box.”

Read more from our partners at NBC News

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com