A Utah man who worked as a concessionaire employee in Yellowstone National Park was sentenced Tuesday to five years’ probation for making threats one day after a fatal shootout in the same park.
Robert Sherman, 55, of Holladay Utah, also was sentenced to 14 days in jail, but received credit for the 14 days he spent in jail during his prosecution, according to a statement the U.S. Attorney for Wyoming dispatched Wednesday.
Multiple witnesses heard Sherman say something along the lines of “the next mass shooting will occur here” on July 5 after he quarreled with other staff members in a dining hall at the Roosevelt Lodge, court documents say.
The prosecutor’s statement says Sherman made several comments indicating he’d be “killing people around here.”
The timing of his remarks was poor.
Authorities say another Xanterra employee, 28-year-old Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner, had shot a U.S. Park Ranger in the leg or foot before being shot to death himself one day prior, July 4.
“(Fussner) attempted to shoot at people inside the Canyon Lodge employee dining room,” the U.S. Attorney’s statement says.
Sherman’s attorney did not immediately respond to a Thursday email requesting comment. Sherman could not be reached by publication time.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
