Oregon FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing told reporters at a Wednesday morning news conference in Burns that the occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge had "ample" time to leave peacefully.

Bretzing was joined by U.S. Attorney Bill Williams and Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward during the news conference, held on the 26th day of the standoff with the occupiers. They expressed disappointment that a traffic stop involving the militant group's leadership turned deadly Tuesday.

"It didn't have to happen," Ward told reporters gathered at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce. "We all make choices in life. Sometimes our choices go bad."

Bretzing said the FBI, state police and the Harney County Sheriff's Office had taken a "very deliberate and measured response" to the protesters who took hold of the refuge on Jan. 2. The occupiers, he said, were given every opportunity to air their grievances. They had a chance to leave and return to their families, Bretzing said.

"Instead, these individuals have chosen to threaten and intimidate the America they profess to love," he said.

On Tuesday, Oregon standoff spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum was shot and killed and other occupation leaders arrested after the FBI and Oregon State Police pulled over their vehicles on U.S. 395 about 20 miles north of Burns as they were on their way to a community meeting in John Day, according to authorities. Ryan Bundy suffered a minor gunshot wound in the 4:30 p.m. confrontation and was treated at a local hospital, authorities said.

In all, eight people were arrested during the stops, in Burns and one in Arizona. They are: Ammon E. Bundy, 40, of Emmett, Idaho; his brother, Ryan C. Bundy, 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Ryan W. Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana; Jon Ritzheimer, 32, of Peoria, Arizona; Brian Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Shawna J. Cox, 59, of Kanab, Utah; Joseph D. O'Shaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Arizona; and Peter T. Santilli, 50, of Cincinnati.

All but Ritzheimer, who surrendered to police in Arizona, are set to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland. Ritzheimer will return to Oregon for court, Williams said during the news conference.

They each face a charge of conspiracy to impede federal officers, a felony.

During the news conference, officials did not provide any more details about the traffic stops or what prompted the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation. They also did not confirm that Finicum was the person killed during the confrontation. His daughter told The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday that her father had died defending his beliefs.

Officials did not take any questions from reporters.

Bretzing and Ward both stressed that there could have been another outcome.

"Let me be clear: It is fully and unequivocally the behavior and the choices made by the armed occupiers that have led us to where we are today," Bretzing said in a statement, released by the FBI. "And, as the FBI and our partners have demonstrated, actions are not without consequences."

Authorities reiterated that the occupation has been disruptive to the community and said they are committed to restoring normalcy for Harney County residents.

The occupiers arrived in Burns to protest the federal arson convictions of father and son ranchers, who lived outside the city. At the time, the refuge takeover appeared spontaneous, but it was part of a plan that had been developed over two months.

Ward said that several of the people who were arrested Tuesday first came to visit him on Nov. 5, and that he had been trying to work with them ever since.

"They had ultimatums that I couldn't meet," the sheriff said. "I'm here to uphold the law."

Ward emphasized that the occupation hasn't just affected the wildlife refuge. The militants, he said, have spent time in town attempting to "stir some issues within the community."

Ward said if authorities could have just waited for the protesters to leave, they would have.

During the press conference, Ward grew emotional. "It doesn't have to be bloodshed in our community," he said.

Ward said if people have problems with their government, they should take appropriate actions.

"We don't arm up," he said. "We don't arm up and rebel. We work through the appropriate channels.

"This can't happen anymore," he said. "This can't happen in America, and it can't happen in Harney County."

On Wednesday, it was unclear how many occupiers remained at the refuge. At one time, it looked as though there were about 40 people there, including children.

During the past three-and-a-half weeks, tensions mounted as federal authorities faced repeated calls to resolve the occupation. After word of the shooting and arrests spread Tuesday, reactions poured in from state officials and other area leaders.

On Tuesday night, law enforcement set up roadblocks around the wildlife refuge. FBI officials worked into the night trying to persuade the remaining occupiers to leave. Several were allowed to leave without arrest.

In a news release early Wednesday, the FBI said federal agents and state police contained the refuge "in order to better ensure the safety of community members and law enforcement."

Authorities said only local property owners would be allowed through their checkpoints.

Keep watching The Oregonian/OregonLive for our continuing coverage Wednesday from Burns.

Les Zaitz and Kelly House of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- Rebecca Woolington

503-294-4049; @rwoolington