Fugitive Says He Was Wounded in Shootout

A fugitive white supremacist who has held authorities at bay for eight days is wounded but is not yet ready to leave his log cabin, a former Green Beret officer who spoke with him said Saturday.

Former U.S. Army Special Forces Lt. Col. James G. (Bo) Gritz said Randy Weaver told him he was wounded in the arm during an exchange of gunfire with federal agents on Aug. 22 that killed his wife and wounded a family friend.

Weaver is in the cabin with his three daughters and the friend. Authorities learned of Vicki Weaver’s death after allowing Gritz to speak with Weaver through a bullhorn Friday night.

Weaver’s teen-age son and a federal agent were killed in a shootout Aug. 21 that led to the siege of Weaver’s house by more than 100 federal, state and local police and National Guardsmen.

Gritz said Weaver wants “a day or so” before deciding whether to leave the cabin.

The police and guardsmen have surrounded the remote cabin on Ruby Ridge, about 10 miles south of Bonners Ferry and 110 miles northeast of Spokane, Wash. They said they hoped to persuade Weaver to abandon any thoughts of dying in a final confrontation.