By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
An FBI agent accused of obstruction and making false statements denied Wednesday that he shot at a militia leader involved in the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge.
W. Joseph Astarita is accused of firing his weapon twice in the line of duty and removing the shell casings from the scene.
But Astarita testified during his trial this week that he did neither.
Astarita is charged with allegedly lying that the fired two errant shots that missed Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, who was fatally shot by Oregon State Police.
Investigators were able to identify who fired six of the eight shots. After an investigation, prosecutors became convinced that Astarita fired the other two shots.
He was indicted in June 2017.
Astarita testified Wednesday that he did not fire his weapon at Finicum because he was worried about cross-fire.
Prosecutors rested their case earlier this week, saying Astarita was the only person who could have fired the mysterious shots.
