The Fourth of July kicked off with a shootout between a Yellowstone National Park ranger and a person of interest in the Canyon Village, on Thursday morning, leaving one person dead, the Cowboy State Daily reports.
The ranger is currently being treated for his injuries at a nearby regional hospital. He is reported as being in stable condition.
The Yellowstone National Park Public Affairs Office reported that there is no immediate threat to the public. The area around the Canyon Lodge has been closed off so officials can investigate the incident, which the FBI is leading, with the help of National Park Service special agents.
According to a statement released Wednesday night by the public affairs office, rangers were responding to reports of a person making threats, and carrying a firearm.
Once the rangers contacted the person of interest, gunfire between the suspect and the rangers occurred.
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The statement said that the person of interest was killed and that their identity will not be released at this time.
An email from Park Superintendent Cam Sholly to employees said that “numerous” rangers were also involved, but were not physically injured.
“This team did an amazing job today as you’ll learn when more details come out,” Sholly wrote in the email.
Employees were placed on a lockdown during the shootout.
