A 28-year-old man who worked for a business in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting before being killed in a shootout with rangers on the Fourth of July, officials said Tuesday.
Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, of Milton, Florida, was confronted by Yellowstone law enforcement rangers early on the morning of July 4 while allegedly shooting a semi-automatic rifle toward a dining facility at Canyon Village, according to NPS. Approximately 200 people were in the facility at the time, NPS said in an update on the incident Tuesday.
Authorities respond to an incident at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, July 4, 2024.
Obtained by ABC News
During an exchange of gunfire, Fussner was shot by law enforcement rangers and died at the scene, NPS said. A ranger was also shot in a lower extremity, NPS said. The injured ranger was transported to an area hospital in stable condition and has since been released, NPS said. No other injuries were reported.
Fussner was an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business authorized to operate in Yellowstone, according to NPS. ABC News has reached out to the business for comment.
Law enforcement rangers initially began searching for the suspect after Yellowstone’s 911 dispatch center received a report just after midnight on July 4 “that a woman had been held against her will by a man with a gun in a residence at Canyon Village,” NPS said in a press release.
“She also reported to law enforcement rangers that Fussner threatened to kill her and others, including plans to allegedly carry out a mass shooting(s) at July 4th events outside the park,” NPS said.
Rangers were “strategically deployed” in the park amid the search for Fussner, NPS said. Those posted near Canyon Lodge — which houses employee and public dining rooms in the center of the park — encountered him around 8 a.m. local time as he “reportedly walked toward the service entrance of the facility while firing a semi-automatic rifle,” NPS said.
The investigation into this incident is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and will be reviewed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, the NPS said. The probe will include the shooting involving the rangers, who have been placed on paid administrative leave amid the investigation per NPS policy.
“Thanks to the heroic actions of our law enforcement rangers, many lives were saved here last Thursday,” Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement. “These rangers immediately confronted this shooter and took decisive action to ensure he was no longer a threat to public safety. We are working now to provide maximum support to those involved and their families.”
Yellowstone National Park, one of the most popular and iconic national parks in the United States, was the scene of a tragic incident on Tuesday when park rangers shot and killed a man who allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting.
The incident began when park rangers received reports of a man acting erratically and making threats to shoot people in the park. The man, whose identity has not been released, was reportedly armed with a rifle and had been seen behaving aggressively towards other visitors.
In response to the reports, park rangers located the man and attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, the man refused to comply with their orders and continued to make threats. Fearing for the safety of themselves and others in the park, the rangers were forced to use lethal force and shot the man.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and an investigation into the incident is currently ongoing. The park rangers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
This tragic incident highlights the difficult and dangerous situations that park rangers can face while working to protect visitors and preserve the natural beauty of our national parks. While Yellowstone National Park is known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, it is also important to remember that it is a vast and remote wilderness area where unexpected dangers can arise.
Visitors to national parks are urged to follow all rules and regulations, respect the authority of park rangers, and report any suspicious or threatening behavior to park officials. By working together to ensure the safety and security of our national parks, we can continue to enjoy these treasured natural resources for generations to come.
