Authorities have identified 20-year-old Wess Roley as the man who set a fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and opened fire on responding firefighters in what officials described as a premeditated ambush. Roley fatally shot Battalion Chief Frank Harwood of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Battalion Chief John Morrison of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.
A third responder, firefighter-engineer David Tysdal, was critically injured and remains hospitalized, undergoing multiple surgeries.
Law enforcement found Roley dead near the attack site Sunday, June 29, following a gunfight with officers. Sheriff Bob Norris said Roley appeared to have taken his own life and acted alone.
How did the attack unfold?
Firefighters responded to the blaze around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. About 30 minutes later, crews reported coming under fire. Norris said Roley was concealed in rugged terrain and used a high-powered rifle in what he called a premeditated ambush. Officers returned fire and eventually tracked Roley’s location using a stationary cellphone signal detected at 3:15 p.m.
The 26-acre fire, believed to have been started with a flint tool, remained active into Monday, June 30, but was not threatening structures. SWAT teams, snipers and more than 300 personnel responded during the manhunt. Deputies disabled fire vehicles and pushed Roley’s truck off an embankment to block any escape.
What do we know about the suspect?
Roley had no criminal record but had five prior non-criminal encounters with law enforcement. His grandfather told NBC News that Roley once aspired to be a firefighter. Investigators have not found a manifesto or clear motive, but they are reviewing social media activity and statements from relatives. His father expressed disbelief, calling the shootings “horrible.”
Roley reportedly lived out of his vehicle and had worked for a local tree-trimming company. Deputies found debris inside the car, leading investigators to believe Roley may have been living in his truck at the time of the shooting.
How have officials and residents responded?
Idaho Gov. Brad Little called the ambush a “heinous direct assault” on emergency responders and ordered flags flown at half-staff. Local residents expressed shock and confusion, describing Coeur d’Alene as a quiet community rarely thrust into national headlines.
