FBI says two suspects arrested after hostage situation in California forest

Two people were arrested after taking two U.S. Forest Service biologists hostage in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Redding, California, the FBI said.

FBI Sacramento teams, including crisis negotiators, a SWAT team and an evidence response team, responded to the scene, along with the agency’s Hostage Rescue Team from Quantico, FBI Director Kash Patel said on X, Caliber.Az reports.

Yesterday and into the early morning hours of today, the FBI responded to a hostage situation in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Redding, CA – where two individuals took two U.S. Forest Service biologists as hostages.

FBI Sacramento, including our Crisis Negotiators, SWAT… pic.twitter.com/yOZxLrewJ2

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) July 18, 2026

After nearly 10 hours of negotiations, the hostages were safely released, while suspects Joseph Henrichsen and Phoenix Henrichsen surrendered and were taken into custody.

Patel praised the FBI teams for what he described as a professional response that helped secure a safe resolution.

By Sabina Mammadli