Chilling details have emerged about a gunman’s alleged plot in Yellowstone National Park before he was captured by park rangers.
Samson Fussner, 28, was shot and killed during a shootout with park rangers on July 4 as families gathered at the memorial to celebrate the long weekend.
Shortly after midnight, police officers arrived en masse after reports came in that a woman was being held against her will at gunpoint. The shooter fled, and park rangers began an hours-long search of the park.
In the early morning, Fussner was ambushed and shot dead by park rangers when he fired a semi-automatic rifle into a building containing about 200 people.
The woman he held captive later said he had described a plan to carry out horrific mass shootings on the Fourth of July holiday in the national park, reports KRTV.
Samson Fussner, 28, was shot during a shootout with Yellowstone Park Rangers on July 4 after he allegedly took a woman captive and then threatened to carry out a mass shooting
Yellowstone Park rangers searched the park before encountering Fussner around 8 a.m., where he was shot and killed when he attempted to open fire on a building filled with people
Fussner, originally from Milton, Florida, was an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a hospitality travel company that operates in a number of national parks in America, including Yellowstone.
When the first 911 calls came in, it was reported that the suspect had fled into the park and that he was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Park rangers were tactically positioned throughout the park to protect vacationing families and employees as the search continued.
Around 8 a.m., police officers stationed at Canyon Lodge, an area in the center of the park for employee housing and public dining, found Fussner outside as he began shooting.
Police conducted an hours-long search for Fussner in Yellowstone, and he was described as “armed and dangerous”
Fussner, originally from Milton, Florida, was an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a hospitality travel company
Rangers are said to have encountered Fussner as they were strategically positioned around the park to protect vacationers and employees
With hundreds of people inside, Fussner opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle. It is unclear whether he was able to hit the building before he was taken down.
This led to a gunfight outside the building, in which Fussner was fatally shot and a ranger was hit in the leg.
Fussner received emergency treatment from rangers after being shot, but was pronounced dead at the scene, while the injured ranger was taken to hospital in stable condition. They have since been released.
Witnesses reported on social media that when the chaos began, they were forced to stay in their hotel rooms because of the active shooter.
Park ranger Cam Sholly said in an email to staff that “numerous” other park rangers were involved in the shooting, but no one was injured.
Fussner was pronounced dead at the scene, and the ranger he shot survived and was released from the hospital
The investigation into the shooting is being led by the FBI and the park rangers involved have been suspended.
In a statement after the shooting, Sholly praised the efforts of park rangers and said assistance would be provided to the victims.
“Thanks to the heroic actions of our police officers, many lives were saved here last Thursday,” Sholly said.
“These rangers immediately confronted this shooter and took decisive action to ensure he no longer posed a threat to public safety. We are now working to provide maximum support to those involved and their families.”