Shooting in Yellowstone National Park leaves one dead and one ranger injured

Yellowstone National Park rangers shot and killed one person in a shootout early Thursday morning, and a ranger was also injured, the park said.

The ranger was in stable condition and was receiving medical treatment at a nearby regional hospital late Thursday morning. The park’s announcement did not specify the nature of the ranger’s injuries.

At the time the park was announced, there was no active threat to the public.

The park described a “significant police incident” that occurred in Canyon Village in central Yellowstone on Wednesday night. Rangers responded to the area after learning that an armed individual was making threats, the park said.

When rangers contacted the individual, whose identity Yellowstone did not release, a gunfire exchange occurred between them and the individual. The park’s release did not specify how many rangers were involved in the shooting.

Calls to the park administration were not immediately answered on Thursday afternoon.

Firearms are permitted in the national park, but are prohibited in certain facilities such as visitor centers and government offices. Firing a weapon is also prohibited in Yellowstone.

The area around the Canyon Lodge complex remained closed Thursday while authorities investigated the shooting. The FBI is leading the investigation with assistance from special agents with the National Park Service.

An FBI spokeswoman for the agency’s Denver field office said in an email that the FBI could not comment further beyond the content of the park’s statement.

According to the park’s website, there are more than 500 rooms at Canyon Lodge and Cabins, located near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

The shooting occurred at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the month when the park is typically busiest.

This breaking news story will be updated as new information becomes available.