Authorities have identified Wess Roley, a 20-year-old, as the suspect in a sniper attack that claimed the lives of two firefighters and injured a third in Idaho. The incident occurred during a fire response at Canfield Mountain, situated north of Coeur d’Alene. Reports suggest that Roley initiated the fire as a trap for first responders.
A tactical team later discovered a deceased male near the crime scene, believed to be the shooter, though the circumstances of his death remain under investigation.
Roley, who relocated from Arizona in 2023 to assist with his father’s tree lopping business, had recently been reported by his mother as thriving in Idaho. Sheriff Bob Norris described the assault as a “total ambush,” emphasizing the unpreparedness of the firefighters. “We lost a firefighter from Coeur d’Alene and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue,” he confirmed, adding that a third firefighter was in stable condition.
The fire began at approximately 1:21 PM PST, with reports of gunfire emerging shortly thereafter. The blaze expanded to 20 acres and continued burning through the night. Over 300 law enforcement officers were dispatched, including snipers from helicopters, as they responded to the shooter’s assault, which involved rapid fire from a high-powered rifle.
Investigators tracked the suspect’s location via mobile phone data, but it remains unclear whether he took his own life or was shot by law enforcement.
Source: www.bbc.com
