Ranger wounded, suspect dead in rare shooting at Yellowstone National Park, NPS says

A park ranger is injured and a suspect is dead following an exchange of gunfire in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, the National Park Service reported Thursday.

The incident occurred overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, the park service said in a news release. Rangers received a report that a person with a gun was making threats in the popular Canyon Village area, which offers lodges, cabins and camping. Rangers made contact, exchanging gunfire with the individual, NPS said in a news release.

The person was killed in the exchange and one Yellowstone law enforcement park ranger was injured. The ranger is in stable condition at a regional hospital. There is no ongoing threat to the public, said NPS. The area around Canyon Lodge complex has been closed for investigation, which will be a collaborative effort between NPS and the FBI.

Officials at the National Park Service and the FBI didn't respond immediately to requests for further details.

Fatal attacks are rare at national parks, with only 43 homicides recorded by the NPS between 2007 and May 21, 2024.