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.
Hearth 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.
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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 hearth late Sunday evening together with a firearm, the sheriff stated. Norris stated Monday that it appeared the suspect shot himself.
Because the Nettleton Gulch Hearth continued to burn on Monday, the sheriff stated it’ll take days to totally course of the realm, however investigators have positioned Roley’s car in an embankment close to the scene. He stated investigators haven’t but been capable of stock the car, which has “loads 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 depart 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 trying via Roley’s social media presence for any clues to a doable motive. Norris stated investigators haven’t discovered any connection to “Islamic jihad,” disputing rumors spreading on social media.
“We now have info that he, at one time, he needed to be a firefighter,” Norris stated, however added that investigators do not know if that has any connection to what occurred.
Younger Kwak / REUTERS 
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 Hearth & Rescue Chief Christopher Approach stated throughout the hearth division’s information convention Monday.
Battalion Chief Harwood had been a member of the division for 17 years, Approach stated. Harwood was additionally a well-respected former Military Nationwide Guard member, Approach stated. He’s survived by his spouse and two kids.
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“This loss is felt by so many, together with the entire members of his shift that labored and noticed the incident yesterday,” Approach stated.
Morrison had been a firefighter since 1996, Approach stated, including that he had served town of Coeur d’Alene for greater than 28 and a half years. Approach 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.
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After the ambush taking pictures, Approach stated native regulation enforcement businesses at the moment are occurring each name with the hearth division.
“I do not know that we’re ever going to have the ability to assure individuals’s peace of thoughts, at the 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 hearth 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, because of early stories 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 remains to be being processed.
Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu through Getty Pictures 
Suspect’s grandfather describes him as “just about a standard child”
In accordance with a Fb submit 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 standard child.” He stated his grandson had just lately 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 just lately was working at a special tree firm in Coeur d’Alene. He stated his grandson “needed to be a fireman” and utilized for a job with the forestry service 4 or 5 months in the past.
In a press release offered by their legal professional, 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 aren’t 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 happened. Our hearts and spirits are damaged for the misplaced and hurting, and for our personal loss as effectively. We intend to totally cooperate with authorities in searching for solutions. As we additionally take care of the grief of this heinous tragedy in our family, we won’t be answering any questions outdoors of regulation enforcement.”
As of Monday afternoon, the Nettleton Gulch Hearth has unfold to roughly 26 acres, the Idaho Division of Lands stated in a press release. No evacuations have been ordered and no buildings are in danger, the company stated.
Brian Dakss and
contributed to this report.
