Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has been at the center of recent events involving a shooting suspect who died following a gunfight with park rangers on the fourth of July. The incident, which began just after midnight on Thursday, was sparked by a report received by park officials that a woman was being held hostage by a man with a gun in a residence at Canyon Village.
According to the woman, the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, not only threatened her life but also revealed plans to carry out mass shootings at July 4th events outside the park. Park rangers quickly sprang into action upon locating Fussner’s unoccupied car in the Canyon area, strategically deploying themselves to protect park visitors and employees while conducting a search for the suspect.
Over 20 National Park Service law enforcement rangers, including the park’s special response team, were mobilized to safeguard park-goers and track down Fussner. The tense situation escalated when Fussner was spotted near Canyon Lodge, which houses both employee and public dining rooms, and began firing a semi-automatic rifle while approaching the building’s service entrance where around 200 people were present.
In the ensuing gunfight, Fussner was fatally shot by several rangers, one of whom also sustained gunshot wounds but is now in stable condition after receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Fortunately, there were no other reported injuries from the confrontation. Fussner, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business operating in Yellowstone, is said to have had a troubling history leading up to the deadly encounter.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the National Park Service, Xanterra, and other partners, is offering support to victims and witnesses linked to the shooting. Moreover, NPS law enforcement officials directly involved in the confrontation have been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as per standard protocol. The NPS has committed to releasing body-cam footage of the incident within the next 30 days.
Superintendent Cam Sholly commended the swift and heroic actions of the law enforcement rangers for containing the threat and preventing further harm to the public. He expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of various agencies and partners in managing the aftermath of the tragic event, emphasizing the priority of providing assistance to those affected by the ordeal.