A shooting on the Fourth of July at America’s first national park has left one dead and a park ranger injured.
The shooting broke out at Canyon Village in the central area of Yellowstone National Park overnight and into early Thursday, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
‘Rangers responded to a report of an individual with a firearm who was making threats,’ stated the agency.
‘When rangers contacted the individual there was an exchange of gunfire between the subject and law enforcement rangers.’
The suspect was shot dead by authorities. The suspect’s identity was not immediately released.
A Yellowstone park law enforcement ranger was hurt and was transported to a regional hospital and is in stable condition.
There is no active threat to the public, according to the NPS.
The Canyon Lodge complex area has been shuttered to the public amid an investigation into the incident led by the FBI with help from NPS special agents.
Canyon Village is located south of Tower Falls in the middle of Yellowstone.
A visitor, Todd Heskett, was staying at a hotel in Canyon Village with his wife and their children aged 14 and 22 when they heard shots fired around 8am in the Canyon Lodge eatery.
Heskett told NBC News that he called 911 as well as the front desk and was told there was an active shooter situation and he should remain in his hotel room.
He said he got an emergency alert on his phone an hour afterward stating that the situation was under control and he could leave the room.
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