Pilot rescued after plane crashes into Palisades Reservoir

KIFI on July 1, 2025

News Release

The following is a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office:

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — Just after 11 am this morning, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies and Star Valley Rescue were dispatched to the Palisades Reservoir near the Alpine Airport to a report of an airplane that went down in the water. A boater was able to get to the plane and rescue the pilot, who was the only one on board. The pilot was transported to the Star Valley Emergency Center but was not injured in the crash. 

Courtesy: AlpineFire Wyoming 

    The pilot told Deputies he was attempting to land at the airport and undershot the runway and could not maintain enough air speed before hitting the water. Deputies are working with the FAA and NTSB on the investigation, and removal of the plane will take place sometime in the next day or so. Deputies are asking boaters to stay clear of the plane and immediate area around it until it can be safely removed.

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Hundreds gather to celebrate the life of Daniel Giffin, the boy who unicycled up Pikes Peak

KRDO on July 1, 2025

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Monday, June 30, hundreds filled the stands at Weidner Field to celebrate and honor the life of 17-year-old Daniel Giffin. Giffin is a Colorado Springs native who was battling a rare form of brain cancer for six and a half years. 

Giffin is known for his unicycle ride up Pikes Peak. At 11 years old, he accomplished the 14er feat on one wheel. Aside from his skills on wheels, his radiating joy and gratitude have left a lasting impact on so many lives. 

Our team joined Griffin’s celebration of life, noting that there was not a dry eye in the stadium. Daniel’s mom tells KRDO13 they were talking about having his celebration of life at their church, but they couldn’t fit everyone, so they held the ceremony at Weidner Field. Giffin, a switchbacks superfan, signed the final beam as the stadium was being finished.

Only a few years later, the stands were packed and overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude that each person there got to feel Daniel’s love during his life. 

“I feel like I got a gift in having him, and it’s not that I lost something, but I really gained something. I got to have this beautiful boy in my life,” shared Daniel Giffin’s mother, Torie Giffin. “It was just like a love bomb, and he would hug me and tell me how much he appreciated me and thank me for the smallest things. He was grateful for the little things, but he always told me, I love you. And so I just want all the boys out there to know you guys still hug your mommas. You guys still tell them you love them. You’ve got to hug your sisters, and you know, because life is precious and you don’t know how much time. Fortunately, we knew and we had lots of time to enjoy every minute to its fullest. But you don’t always know, and it’s important.”

Now Torie Giffin is being held by the hundreds who loved Daniel.

“He had such big faith, and he never complained about a thing. You know, everything that happened, he just really took it in stride and chose happiness over sadness and to focus on what we had versus what we didn’t. And so I really just grew in my faith and my strength because of my son being just so courageous in his battle. And I got to see it firsthand. He is a pretty amazing kid,” shared Giffin.

She finds peace in knowing he’s graduated to a better place. 

“The hardest thing was really just watching him struggle and suffer and, you know, be in pain for so long, and he just put up such a valiant fight. I mean, six and a half years and, you know, seven brain surgeries, 58 days of radiation, all the treatments, all the MRIs, all the clinical trials, you know, 50 pills a day just to try and not have seizures. It was really tough,” explained Giffin.

Daniel’s mom said he really took it in stride and chose happiness over sadness. He was selfless and lived his 17 years to the fullest, becoming an example for others, family said.

“There’s so much goodness in Colorado Springs, and there are so many great people. And if Daniel’s story could bring more of us together, and we could worry about the really important things in life and people you know, and not what separates us or our differences, but focus on the good. We have a lot of good here in Colorado Springs,” shared Daniel’s mother.

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Authorities name suspect in firefighter ambush, Clarify details amid online rumors

News-Press NOW on July 1, 2025

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Noah Farley

UPDATE:

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities have identified 20-year-old Wess Val Roley as the suspect in Sunday’s ambush near Coeur d’Alene that left two firefighters dead and one seriously injured. During a press conference Monday afternoon, Sheriff Bob Norris not only named Roley but also worked to clear up several misconceptions and false information surrounding the incident.

Investigators believe Roley intentionally started a brush fire on Canfield Mountain before opening fire on the responding crews. This theory is supported by newly released evidence: a flint starter was found on Roley’s body.

Roley reportedly had prior residences in California, Arizona, and Idaho, and investigators believe he was living out of his car at the time of the incident. Sheriff Bob Norris stated that while his staff and other law enforcement agencies had “very, very minor” interactions with Roley previously, mostly involving trespassing calls and welfare checks, he has no known criminal history.

“We don’t show any criminal history for Roley,” Norris told reporters. “At this time, we can’t locate a criminal record for this individual.”

Sheriff Norris directly addressed social media speculation, clarifying that there is no evidence linking Roley’s attack to an Islamist Jihad. “We don’t have any indication of a motive at this time,” Norris explained. He did reveal that Roley had expressed a past desire to become a firefighter. “We don’t know if there is a nexus to that desire and what happened that day… but we do know that he did at one time want to be a firefighter.”

The fatal incident began around 1:21 p.m. Sunday when firefighters were called to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. Interestingly, Roley did not immediately open fire. According to Sheriff Norris, the 20-year-old made contact with the firefighters upon their arrival. “There was a discussion,” Sheriff Norris said, adding, “It had something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.”

As the gunman began shooting from the woods, firefighters reportedly pushed Roley’s vehicle off the side of the mountain and disabled their fire trucks to prevent him from escaping or doubling back. Authorities have not found any manifesto indicating a motive for Roley’s actions and have not yet been able to inventory his vehicle.

Roley’s body was discovered by SWAT team members on Canfield Mountain at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, with a firearm found nearby. “It appears right now we have a shotgun that was used…we are still processing the scene,” Norris noted. It has not been determined if the firearm belonged to Roley or another individual.

Veterans Bridge Incident Unrelated

Sheriff Norris also dispelled rumors connecting the ambush to a separate incident on Sunday night, around 11 PM, when an individual jumped from the Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge along I-90 near Coeur d’Alene. Norris stated that this person had no relation to the firefighter murders.

Fire Containment Update

As of today, Sheriff Norris reports that the fire remains at 26 acres and has not grown. He indicated that fire containment is a slow process due to the terrain, with fire crews establishing 27 containment points on the mountain.

UPDATE:

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is addressing members of the press and the public to provide an update on the investigation into the ambush that took the lives of two firefighters near Canfield Mountain.

You can watch the press conference live above.

The fatal attack began around 1:21 p.m. Sunday when firefighters were called to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. According to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, as crews arrived, a gunman began shooting at them from the woods.

“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” Sheriff Norris stated at a Sunday night news conference.

Roley’s body was later discovered by SWAT team members on Canfield Mountain at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, with a firearm found nearby. The investigation into the motive behind this unprecedented attack is ongoing.

ORIGINAL:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities have identified 20-year-old Wess Roley as the suspect in Sunday’s ambush that left two firefighters dead and one seriously injured near Coeur d’Alene. Investigators believe Roley intentionally started a brush fire before opening fire on the responding crews.

The fatal attack began around 1:21 p.m. Sunday when firefighters were called to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. According to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, as crews arrived, a gunman began shooting at them from the woods.

“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” Sheriff Norris stated at a Sunday night news conference.

Roley’s body was later discovered by SWAT team members on Canfield Mountain at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, with a firearm found nearby. The investigation into the motive behind this unprecedented attack is ongoing.

Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff

The incident quickly drew statewide condemnation, Governor Brad Little calling the ambush a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters” in a post on X. Monday morning, Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo held a moment of silence on the U.S. Senate floor for the firefighters killed in the attack.

To honor the fallen, Governor Little has ordered flags across Idaho to be flown at half-staff immediately. The order will remain in effect until the day after the firefighters’ memorial service, which has yet to be scheduled.

“The entire State of Idaho grieves the profound loss of the firefighters killed in the shocking ambush in North Idaho,” Governor Little said. “All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis, but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before. This is not Idaho. This indescribable loss is felt deeply by all those in the firefighting community and beyond. Please join Teresa and me as we continue to pray for the victims and their loved ones.”

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