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