Two Forest Service Workers Held Hostage Overnight in Northern California Released After Negotiations

Two U.S. Forest Service employees were zip-tied and held at gunpoint inside a trailer near Gumboot Lake in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest on July 16, 2026. Authorities received a report of the gunman holding the workers shortly before 11 a.m.

The hostages remained inside the trailer at Gumboot Campground near Mount Shasta while the suspect indicated he had firearms and wanted to speak with the FBI. Deputies, FBI agents, SWAT teams, negotiators and drone operators responded to the site. Drones helped locate the trailer in the dense terrain.

Negotiations began around 4:20 p.m. and continued through the night. Both hostages were released around 1:50 a.m. on July 17. The two suspects surrendered roughly 40 minutes later. Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said the operation involved repeated efforts to communicate with the suspect.

“We attempted every effort to begin communicating with him to resolve the potential conflict,” LaRue stated. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that crisis negotiators, SWAT teams and a Hostage Rescue Team took part.

And subjects Joseph Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen surrendered and were immediately taken into custody,” Patel said. U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said both employees are home safe and called the outcome a testament to the skill of every responder.

Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his adult son Phoenix face federal charges of kidnapping a federal employee. Prosecutors said the investigation continues and motive has not been disclosed.