Police have named Wess Roley, 20, as the suspect in the ambush shooting of Idaho firefighters, with authorities suggesting he may have set fire to lure them to the scene.
20-Year-Old Suspect Named in Deadly Idaho Firefighter Ambush
20-Year-Old Suspect Named in Deadly Idaho Firefighter Ambush
Wess Roley identified as the shooter in a tragic attack that left two firefighters dead and another critically injured.
Police sources have confirmed that 20-year-old Wess Roley is the suspect in the tragic sniper attack on firefighters in Idaho that occurred on Sunday. Reports from the BBC's US affiliate, CBS News, indicate that two firefighters were killed while another was injured as they responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain, located just north of Coeur d'Alene.
Authorities suspect Roley intentionally ignited the fire to attract first responders to the location. Following the ambush, a police tactical team discovered a deceased male near the attack site, who is presumed to be the shooter. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have yet to release details regarding the motivation for the attack or the circumstances surrounding Roley's death.
"This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance," said Sheriff Bob Norris during a late-night news conference. He confirmed the tragic loss of one firefighter from Coeur d'Alene and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. A third firefighter is currently hospitalized and in stable condition.
The initial report of the fire was made around 1:21 PM PST, and within 40 minutes, authorities received reports of the firefighters coming under gunfire. The blaze expanded to 20 acres as it continued to burn into the night. In response to the attack, more than 300 law enforcement officers from city, county, state, and federal agencies were deployed, supported by two helicopters equipped with snipers.
Norris explained that Roley allegedly used a high-powered rifle to unleash rapid gunfire upon the first responders, leaving officers uncertain about the number of shooters involved during the initial chaos. After hours of shooting, Roley was located using mobile phone data, although it remains unclear whether he died by suicide or was struck by police fire.
