A chilling ambush that left two firefighters dead and a third severely injured in the Idaho wilderness may have been fueled by a personal motive, according to the suspect’s grandfather.
Authorities say 20-year-old Wess Roley intentionally set a fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene on Sunday to lure firefighters into a deadly trap. When crews arrived around 2 p.m., Roley reportedly opened fire from a concealed position in the bushes, using a shotgun to fatally shoot two firefighters and critically injure a third.
Moments before the attack, Roley posted a photo of himself on social media dressed in camouflage with dark paint on his face, accompanied by the haunting song “Hunter”—a sign that some now interpret as foreshadowing the violence to come.
After exchanging gunfire with arriving officers, Roley ultimately turned the weapon on himself. His body was recovered with the help of cellphone data before flames overtook the area.
A Troubling Decline
In the days since the tragedy, friends and family members have revealed signs of a deteriorating mental state. Roley’s former roommate said he “went downhill” before moving out in January, and his grandfather, Dale Roley, described him as a “high-strung” loner who was once interested in becoming a firefighter himself.
Dale suggested that the attack may have stemmed from a perceived rejection.
“He loved firefighters,” Dale told NBC News. “It didn’t make sense that he was shooting them. Maybe he got rejected or something.”
However, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris confirmed there’s no indication Roley ever applied to the fire department.
Authorities also revealed that Roley had been living out of his van at the time of the attack. Despite past emotional struggles, he had no criminal history and only minor previous contact with law enforcement.
Victims Identified
The fallen firefighters have been identified as Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. Their deaths have left the local firefighting community in shock.
“We’re devastated,” said Kootenai Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way. “We’ll now include law enforcement on every call moving forward. I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to fully restore peace of mind.”
Over 300 first responders rushed to the scene following the initial gunfire, while others in the area sheltered behind fire trucks to avoid being hit.
A Family in Grief and Disbelief
Roley’s family released a statement through an attorney expressing sorrow and confusion over the events.
“We 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 statement read. “There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy… Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well.”
The investigation is ongoing as officials continue to search for a motive and any additional warning signs that may have preceded the deadly ambush.
