On July 4th morning, a tragic incident unfolded at Yellowstone National Park when a worker, identified as a 28-year-old man from Milton, Florida, was shot dead by park rangers. The individual, Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, had alarming intentions to carry out a mass shooting later that day, as revealed by park officials.
The unsettling events began when Fussner held a woman against her will at the park's Canyon Village complex during the early hours of July 4th. The woman informed park rangers that Fussner had threatened to kill her and others, including plans for a mass shooting at July 4th events outside the park. Fussner was an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business operating within Yellowstone.
More than 20 National Park Service law enforcement rangers, including the park’s special response team, swiftly located Fussner near Canyon Lodge around 8 a.m. The lodge was occupied by approximately 200 people at the time. Fussner, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, proceeded towards the lodge's service entrance while firing shots, prompting law enforcement rangers to engage him.
During the exchange of gunfire, Fussner was fatally shot by law enforcement rangers. Unfortunately, one law enforcement ranger sustained a gunshot wound to a lower extremity and was promptly transported to a hospital. Fortunately, the injured ranger has since been released from medical care.
Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly commended the heroic actions of the law enforcement rangers, emphasizing that their swift response saved numerous lives that day. The FBI has taken the lead in investigating the incident, with support from NPS special agents.
