Yellowstone National Park rangers shot and killed a person early Thursday morning during an exchange of gunfire that also left a ranger injured, the park announced.
The law enforcement ranger was in stable condition and receiving medical care at a nearby regional hospital late Thursday morning. The park’s announcement did not disclose the nature of the ranger’s injuries.
There was no active threat to the public at the time of the park’s announcement.
The park described a “significant law enforcement incident” that occurred at Canyon Village in central Yellowstone overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Rangers responded to the area after learning that a person with a gun was making threats, the park said.
When rangers contacted the person, whom Yellowstone did not identify, they and the individual exchanged gunfire. The park announcement did not state how many rangers were involved in the shooting.
Canyon Village gift store in Yellowstone National Park. (NPS/Jacob W. Frank)
Calls to park officials weren’t immediately returned around noon Thursday.
The area around the Canyon Lodge complex remained closed Thursday while authorities investigated the shooting. The FBI is leading the investigation with help from National Park Service special agents.
In an email, an FBI spokeswoman for the agency’s Denver field office said the bureau could not comment beyond what was included in the park’s announcement.
There are more than 500 rooms at Canyon Lodge and Cabins, which is situated near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, according to the park’s website.
The shooting occurred at the start of the July 4 holiday weekend during what is typically the park’s busiest month for visitation.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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