Suspect in deadly Idaho ambush previously wanted to be a firefighter: Sheriff
The gunman suspected of fatally ambushing firefighters responding to a blaze in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sunday has been identified as a 20-year-old man who once wanted to be a firefighter, according to law enforcement officials.
Wess Roley, 20, who was found dead after an hourslong, multi-agency manhunt in the area, has been identified as the shooter, multiple senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told ABC News.
Responding SWAT team members located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain with a shotgun nearby, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said. It appears he shot himself, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.
There is no indication of a motive at this time in the attack that killed two firefighters and injured a third, Norris said at a press briefing Monday afternoon.
Investigators learned that at one point, Roley wanted to be a firefighter, Norris said, adding, “We don’t know if there’s a nexus to that desire and what happened yesterday.”
The names of the two fallen firefighters were also made public on Monday.
Frank Harwood, 42, was a battalion chief with the Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Department, where he was a 17-year veteran of the department. Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, had been with the department for more than 28 years.
“This was a total ambush,” Norris said during a press briefing on Sunday. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
The firefighter who was injured in the attack, suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to the Kootenai Health Hospital, the medical center confirmed to ABC News. He was identified Monday as Dave Tysdal, 47, a 23-year veteran of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.
Law enforcement in the county had five prior interactions with Roley, 20, but they were “minor in nature,” according to Norris. They included welfare checks and a trespassing incident in which Roley was asked to leave and cooperated, he said.
Investigators have not yet done an inventory of Roley’s vehicle, which “would be a good place to start” in determining a motive, Norris said. Responding deputies pushed the vehicle off the side of a mountain so that the suspect could not flee, and it currently remains in an embankment, Norris said.
Authorities are looking into Roley’s social media presence, the sheriff said.
Roley is believed to have been born in California and has had prior residences in Arizona and Idaho, the sheriff said, noting it appeared he had been living out of his vehicle.
Law enforcement officials believe Roley started the brush fire on Canfield Mountain and began shooting at first responders when they came to put the fire out.
“Roley was found to have a flint starter, and we believe that was his method for starting the fire that eventually led to firefighters responding,” Norris said.
Authorities are investigating a “discussion” Roley had with firefighters when they came on the scene, the sheriff said.
Norris said authorities have received reports that the gunman was shooting at first responders from a tree. Roley “grew up in an arborist family” and did have experience climbing trees, the sheriff said.
His family said they “intend to fully cooperate with authorities in seeking answers.”
“At this time, we, the family of Wess Roley would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families of those whose lives were taken and to the community of Coeur d’Alene at large,” the family said in a statement shared by an attorney representing Roley’s stepfather. “There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting. We do not understand why this happened or how this came about.”
“Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well,” the statement continued.
The incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon, police said. Norris said the first report regarding the small brush fire was received at 1:21 p.m. Around 2 p.m., firefighters reported they were being shot at.
Some 300 law enforcement officers gathered at the scene, some of whom exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Norris said. Responding authorities received offers of help from the White House and FBI Director Kash Patel, the sheriff added.
At 6:30 p.m., those on the scene were told that the suspect should be neutralized as soon as possible. The notification that the suspect was dead was received at 7:40 p.m., Norris said. Law enforcement recovered the body before the fire spread to the spot, the sheriff said.
Based on the trajectory of the fire and the weapon found close to the suspect’s body, Norris said officials believe there was only one shooter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told ABC News its focus on Monday will be on tracing the weapon.
The shelter-in-place order has been lifted for Canfield Mountain Trailhead and the surrounding area, but residents are advised to monitor for updates on the ongoing fire.
The FBI assisted authorities in Kootenai County, an agency spokesperson told ABC News.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little called the incident a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.”
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Little wrote in a post on X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more,” he added.