Fatal July 4 shooting at Yellowstone National Park: Ranger injured, suspect dead
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One man is dead and a Yellowstone National Park ranger injured following a gun battle Thursday morning at Canyon Village, according to park officials. The identity of the deceased was not released.
The incident began Wednesday night and ended Thursday morning, July 4, at the popular resort complex —south of Tower Falls in the central part of the park in Wyoming and an hour northeast of Old Faithful. Early witness reports indicate that the shooter was said to have been bothering women who work at Canyon Village.
Rangers responded to a report of an individual with a firearm who was making threats. When rangers contacted the suspect there was an exchange of gunfire between him and law enforcement rangers. The suspect was killed.
Yellowstone National Park Public Affairs email indicated that there was no threat to the public.
FBI spokesperson Vikki Migoya wrote in an email that the FBI is assisting the National Park Service with the ongoing investigation.
Statistics compiled by Backpacker.com indicate that between 2007 and 2023 there were 38 homicides in Americas national parks. About 243 people also die annually by drowning, from falls and in motor vehicle crashes.