Bodycam footage reveals details of Yellowstone National Park shooting

As part of the National Park Service's established protocol regarding police-involved shootings, Yellowstone National Park has released body-worn camera footage from a police-involved shooting that occurred on July 4, 2024, in Canyon Village.

Shortly after midnight on July 4, the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center received a report that a concession worker had been held against his will by an individual for several hours the previous evening.

The individual, later identified by NPS law enforcement officials as Florida resident Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, who is also a concessions employee, allegedly arrived at the employee's Canyon Village residence armed with a knife and a handgun.

The report stated that Fussner threatened to kill the employee and attack the employee dining hall in Canyon Village the following day.

After Fussner left, the employee went to a safe place and sought help.

In a recorded 911 call to police made by a security guard, the caller reports a man threatening to kill a food stall worker and shooting in the dining room, as heard in the video below.

NPS police officers immediately responded and began searching for Fussner. By July 4, over 20 NPS police officers, including the Yellowstone/Grant Teton Special Response Team, began searching for the suspect near Canyon Village. A crisis negotiation team was activated and an NPS victim advocate was requested for assistance.

A word of warning: This video of a police-involved shooting contains graphic content and strong language. Viewers are advised to exercise caution.

Watch the bodycam footage here.

While searching the area, officers found Fussner's unoccupied and unlocked vehicle in the main parking lot of Canyon Village. Near the center console, officers found an unsecured handgun in plain sight.

At 8:05 a.m., Fussner emerged from the woods with a semi-automatic rifle and encountered an NPS officer near the cabin. Fussner shot the officer. Then, according to park officials, Fussner walked to the loading dock and fired through a door into the hall at another officer, who returned fire and was shot by Fussner during the exchange of gunfire. Fussner was subsequently shot by police officers and died at the scene.

The injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition and has since been released.

In accordance with U.S. Department of Interior and NPS policies, the NPS has released available body-worn camera footage of the incident.

The investigation into the incident, including the actions of National Park Service law enforcement officials, is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and reviewed by the District of Wyoming Attorney General's Office.