Idaho shooting suspect identified, motive for ambush of firefighters still unknown, sheriff says

The suspect who allegedly ambushed firefighters on the job in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, had contact and dialogue with first responders earlier than taking pictures at them with a shotgun, killing two of them and critically injuring a 3rd, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris stated. 

Fireplace officers on Monday recognized the deceased firefighters as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52. The third firefighter who was critically injured, engineer Dave Tysdal, underwent two profitable surgical procedures on Monday, hearth officers stated throughout a information convention.  

Throughout a separate information convention on Monday, Norris recognized the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley. His physique was discovered on the scene of the fireplace late Sunday night time together with a firearm, the sheriff stated. Norris stated Monday that it appeared the suspect shot himself.

Because the Nettleton Gulch Fireplace continued to burn on Monday, the sheriff stated it can take days to totally course of the world, however investigators have situated Roley’s car in an embankment close to the scene. He stated investigators haven’t but been in a position to stock the car, which has “a whole lot of particles in there.” Individuals who have seen the car say it seems Roley was residing within the car, Norris stated. 

Norris stated authorities haven’t discovered any writings that might point out the suspect’s motive. 

The suspect beforehand had 5 “very minor” encounters with regulation enforcement however had no felony historical past, in response to the sheriff. The interactions with officers “needed to do extra with trespassing, he was requested to go away and [was] cooperative,” Norris stated. Different interactions included welfare checks reported by property house owners about Roley’s car, the sheriff stated.

Authorities are additionally wanting by means of Roley’s social media presence for any clues to a attainable motive. Norris stated investigators haven’t discovered any connection to “Islamic jihad,” disputing rumors spreading on social media.

“We’ve info that he, at one time, he wished to be a firefighter,” Norris stated, however added that investigators do not know if that has any connection to what occurred.

Victims recognized as Frank Harwood and John Morrison

The households of Harwood and Morrison and the firefighting group as an entire are coping with “unimaginable loss,” Kootenai County Fireplace & Rescue Chief Christopher Method stated in the course of the hearth division’s information convention Monday.

Battalion Chief Harwood had been a member of the division for 17 years, Method stated. Harwood was additionally a well-respected former Military Nationwide Guard member, Method stated. He’s survived by his spouse and two kids. 

“This loss is felt by so many, together with the entire members of his shift that labored and noticed the incident yesterday,” Method stated.

Morrison had been a firefighter since 1996, Method stated, including that he had served the town of Coeur d’Alene for greater than 28 and a half years. Method stated he had the chance to work with Morrison two weeks earlier than he was killed, and so they had a “uncommon second” to speak.

“We talked about being higher fathers. We talked about being higher leaders. We talked about being higher firefighters,” he stated.

After the ambush taking pictures, Method stated native regulation enforcement companies are actually happening each name with the fireplace division.

“I do not know that we’re ever going to have the ability to assure folks’s peace of thoughts, at the very least for some time after an incident like this,” he stated. “However we’re taking each measure we are able to to make sure security.”

Suspect lured firefighters by sparking hearth, sheriff says

The firefighters had been responding to a wildfire Sunday afternoon in a preferred recreation space at Canfield Mountain when Roley started firing at them, Norris stated. The sheriff stated investigators consider the suspect used a flint starter to begin the fireplace to lure the firefighters there. 

“And we do consider that it was an ambush and it was intentional. These firefighters didn’t have an opportunity,” Norris stated Sunday.

Investigators initially believed there might need been a couple of sniper, attributable to early studies from first responders, however now say the proof signifies it was Roley armed with a shotgun. 

We all know that there was a shotgun used, completely, 100%, we all know that for positive,” Norris stated Monday, noting that rifled slugs had been recovered from the scene. He stated smaller fragments had been additionally discovered within the space, and the scene continues to be being processed.

Suspect’s grandfather describes him as “just about a traditional child”

In response to a Fb put up by his mom, Roley moved from Arizona to Idaho when he turned 18 in 2023 to work for his father’s tree-cutting firm. In an replace shared in October 2024, his mom wrote he was “doing nice residing in Idaho.”

In a cellphone interview with CBS Information, his paternal grandfather, Dale Roley, described Wess as “just about a traditional child.” He stated his grandson had not too long ago misplaced his cellphone and didn’t have a “high-powered rifle.

“He had a .22 lengthy rifle and a shotgun,” he stated. “That is not a high-powered rifle by any stretch. We’re simply hoping there’s some bizarre circumstances and Wess wasn’t truly concerned.”

Dale Roley confirmed that Wess had labored for his father’s tree firm, however extra not too long ago was working at a unique tree firm in Coeur d’Alene. He stated his grandson “wished to be a fireman” and utilized for a job with the forestry service 4 or 5 months in the past.

In an announcement offered by their lawyer, Wess Roley’s household supplied its condolences to the households of the firefighters who had been killed and to the Coeur d’Alene group.

“There are not any phrases that may suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by these affected by this taking pictures,” the household stated within the assertion. We don’t perceive why this occurred or how this took place. Our hearts and spirits are damaged for the misplaced and hurting, and for our personal loss as nicely. We intend to totally cooperate with authorities in looking for solutions. As we additionally take care of the grief of this heinous tragedy in our family, we won’t be answering any questions exterior of regulation enforcement.”

As of Monday afternoon, the Nettleton Gulch Fireplace has unfold to roughly 26 acres, the Idaho Division of Lands stated in an announcement. No evacuations have been ordered and no buildings are in danger, the company stated.

Jordan Freiman,

Brian Dakss and

Hannah Fraser-Chanpong

contributed to this report.