Two people shot dead in Idaho as firefighters respond to brush fire
Update:
Date: 02:29 BST
Title: 80-year-old resident: This has never happened before
Content: Coeur d'Alene resident Linda Tiger, 80, tells the BBC she was shocked by the shooting.
'This has never happened here,' says Mrs Tiger, who has lived in the city for nearly 30 years.
'But it goes to show that that no one is safe from this kind of mental sadness.'
She says she has been staying indoors as 'all Coeur d'Alene is supposed to shelter in place, but I see people walking around because they haven't heard the news'.
Coeur d'Alene is a city of around 56,000 people. It is near the border with Washington state.
Update:
Date: 02:19 BST
Title: 'Horrific reports out of Coeur d'Alene'
Content: Mike Crapo, a senator for Idaho, says on X that he is "monitoring the horrific reports out of Coeur d'Alene".
'I urge local residents to follow recommendations of law enforcement," the Republican adds in the post, external.
"My prayers are with victims and first responders.'
Crapo's fellow Idaho senator, Jim Risch, posts that he and his wife Vicki were monitoring events in Kootenai County.
"We pray for the safety of our brave first responders," says Risch, also a Republican.
Update:
Date: 02:16 BST
Title: At least one active shooter firing at police - Idaho officials
Content: We're hearing from local police that least one active shooter was firing at law enforcement with a high-powered rifle near the city of Coeur d'Alene.
"We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak," said Sheriff Norris from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office in press conference a short while ago.
"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are."
He adds that the suspect or suspects show "no sign of wanting to surrender".
Idaho Governor Brad Little is warning people to stay clear of the area as law enforcement continues respond to the incident.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," he writes in a post on X.
Update:
Date: 02:13 BST
Title: Two shot dead in Idaho as firefighters respond to brush fire
Content: Two people have been fatally shot in a mountain community in the western US state of Idaho while responding to a brush fire, say officials.
Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Robert Norris says at least one active shooter was firing at law enforcement with a high-powered rifle near the city of Coeur d'Alene.
"If these individuals are not neutralised quickly, this is going to be a likely a multi-day operation," says Norris, adding that officers had reported bullets coming from various directions. Residents have been asked to avoid the scene on Canfield Mountain.
Stay with us as we bring you current updates on the manhunt and investigation.
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Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Sniper who killed two firefighters had ‘idolised' profession
A homeless man who shot dead two firemen after luring them into an ambush in Idaho had aspired to become a firefighter himself, his family has said. Wess Val Roley, 20, used a high-powered rifle to kill Frank Harwood, 42, and John Morrison, 52, as they arrived to put out a 26-acre-wide wildfire he had started near a hiking trail on Canfield Mountain. A third fireman, Dave Tysdal, was critically injured but is in a stable condition. A standoff between Roley and approximately 300 law enforcement officers – including city, county, state, and federal authorities, as well as police snipers aboard two helicopters – lasted several hours on Sunday afternoon before the gunman took his own life. A piece of flint, found next to Roley's body, is believed to have been used to deliberately start the fire and lure the firemen into an ambush. A shotgun, several rifled slugs and fragments from another firearm, possibly a rifle, were also recovered by officers. Police believe Roley, who was living in a car parked near the ambush, may have stashed more weapons around the trail north-east of Coeur d'Alene city. The motivation for the attack remains unclear and a manifesto has not been found by detectives. Roley's grandfather revealed that his grandson 'idolised' firefighters and had applied to become one, but said 'something must have snapped' to trigger the shooting. Dale Roley said he initially believed that his grandson was one of the first responders to the scene. Mr Roley told NBC News: 'He really respected law enforcement. He loved firefighters. 'It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something.' Mr Roley speculated that his grandson may have been turned down from joining because he was 5ft 8in tall. He said: 'I know he had been in contact to get a job with a fire department. He wanted to be part of a team that he sort of idolised.' Firemen were first called to reports of a blaze on the mountain at around 1.30pm local time (9.30pm BST) and gunshots were reported about half an hour later. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said that Roley had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders who thought they were under attack from multiple shooters. The suspect had been hiding in the rugged terrain, Mr Norris said, and he instructed deputies to fire back. Mr Harwood and Mr Morrison were taken to Kootenai Health hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival, according to Kim Anderson, a hospital spokesman. After an hours-long barrage of gunfire, officers were able to identify Roley's exact position by tracing his mobile phone on the hiking trail, which officials said was being used by hundreds on that Sunday afternoon. Mr Norris said Roley had had five 'very minor' interactions with police since moving to Idaho in 2024. In one case, he was found to be trespassing at a restaurant by police. Mr Norris ruled out the suspect having 'any nexus to Islamic jihad', which he said had been falsely suggested on social media. According to a social media post from his mother, Roley had moved from Arizona to Idaho in 2023 to work for his father's tree-trimming company. She wrote in October 2024 that her son was 'doing great living in Idaho'.
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
Transgender pipo for US military dey 'in survival mode' as ban on dia service start
Afta 17 years for di US Army, Maj Kara Corcoran, 39, bin dey prepare to graduate from one ogbonge military leadership programme. But some complication dey. Two days bifor di ceremony, dem tell Kara say she gatz conform to male regulations, wey mean say she go wear man uniform and cut her long blonde hairwey she don dey grown since 2018 wen she tell di Army say she don dey identify as a woman. Di directive bin come from di Pentagon, and flow down through her chain of command for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. "Nothing about me be man, but dem go force me to wear male uniform just so I go fit waka across di stage wit my mates," she tok, hours bifor di ceremony. "E no be my choice to cut my hair. I dey do am bicos I gatz do am." Kara na one of di several thousand transgender pipo wey dey affected by a ban, wey President Trump bin announce for January. Di ban prevent trans pipo from serving for any job for di US military. Di ban bifor Trump first term bin focus on new recruits and allow some exceptions, especially for di ones wey don already dey serve. But di 2025 policy remove almost all di exceptions. Official figures show say transgender pipo for di US armed forces dey, but oda estimates dey much higher, at about 10,000. Di new policy tok say pesin wey get history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria no dey compatible wit di high mental and physical standards necessary for military service. Gender dysphoria na wia pesin dey feel say dia gender dey different from di sex of dia birth. For im executive order, President Trump say "di Armed Forces don dey afflicted wit radical gender ideology" and say di policy go make sure say staff dey "free of medical conditions or physical defects wey fit require too much time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization". Di order also tok say "for man to say im be woman, and for im to need make odas honor dis falsehood, no dey consistent wit di humility and selflessness wey dey required from a service member". One poll for February dis year suggest say 58% of Americans "dey in favor of allowing openly transgender men and women to serve for di US military, but dis support don drop from 71% in 2019 and 66% in 2021". Critics don call di ban discriminatory and legal challenges don dey filed from serving transgender officers and human rights groups. Since February, di BBC don dey follow di lives of Maj Kara Corcoran and anoda officer for di Navy, Lt Rae Timberlake, as dem dey try manage di uncertainty of dia military careers. Dem share wetin dem think and feel in dia personal capacity, no be as tok-tok pipo for di US military or dia oda colleagues. A career in kwesion Kara don spend most of her adult life for di US Army. Her combat deployments include time for Afghanistan wia she bin serve as platoon leader and company commander, wen she bin dey live as man, bifor she transition. Since den, she say she don legally changed her name and gender and she dey use female pronouns. Transgender pipo bin dey disqualified from all jobs for di military until 2016, but over di past decade, as goments dey change, US policy dey also change. "For a long time, I keep silent," Kara tok. Wen she join di army in 2008, women bin no dey allowed for combat positions. Kara bin marry a woman and dem born children, although dia relationship later break down as she dey grapple wit her identity. Las las, she come out as a transgender woman for 2018 and start her hormonal and surgical transition. She say she bin get di support of her commanding officers, wey bin still dey work wit di previous set of guidelines, despite Trump's 2017 ban. She tell di BBC say di transition improve her ability to serve. "E don make me to dey more focused, more resilient," she tok. "Pipo get dis common misconception say transitioning na liability. For me, na di opposite." Now, as Trump latest policy come into effect, dem don tell Kara say if she no leave voluntarily, dem fit force her out of di service against her will through one process wey dem dey call involuntary separation. Involuntary separation na wen pesin dey discharged and dem no choose to comot by dia own freewill. E fit affect any service member, no be just pipo for combat roles. On top losing dia jobs, pipo fit also lose benefits like pensions, healthcare and disability provisions. Di Department of Defense say pesin wey comot involuntarily fit get only half of wetin dem for get if dem bin comot voluntarily - di difference fit be tens of thousands of dollars. Despite dis, Maj Kara Corcoran says she no wan walk away. "I no go separate voluntarily," she tok. "I go go thru di involuntary separation and wetin e look like and how horrific dem wan make am for me and oda service members." 'Di single dumbest phrase for military history' Odas like former US Navy Seal, Carl Higbie, dey support Trump ban. Carl now dey host one TV show for di conservative network Newsmax. E believe say transgender pipo no dey fit for service for di US military, as e tok say gender dysphoria fit require ongoing medical care and accommodations wey fit affect deployability. "You no fit dey take Ritalin [medicine wey dem dey use to treat ADHD] or some kind prescription medicine dem, and still be eligible service member for combat. Why you go dey on hormone therapy, wey we know say e dey get emotional effects sometimes?" e ask. Wen we ask am weda e think say biological women wey dey on hormonal medicines, like some treatment for menopause, dey fit to serve for di armed forces, e say: "I think say e get certain times wia we suppose dey more concern about killing bad guys dan making sure say we get gender quotas for a combat operation." Di ban on transgender service members na part of a broader shift for US military policy - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, wey Trump bin appoint and who also be former army officer, don move to cancel diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes. "I think di single dumbest phrase for military history na 'our diversity is our strength'," Hegseth tok for one event for di Pentagon in February. And in April, e post on X say e don "proudly end" di Women, Peace and Security programme, wey be initiative to invite more women and girls to be part of conflict resolution. E call am a distraction from di ogbonge task of "war-fighting". A family wey go soon change Many bin don see dis policy shift coming. For di early hours of 6 November, wen Donald Trump secure im victory for di 2024 US presidential election, Lt Rae Timberlake make a decision. A non-binary navy officer, Rae join di Navy at di age of 17 and serve on top di nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and also for di Middle East. Rae fall unda di trans umbrella bicos even though dem register dem as female for dia birth, dem no dey identify as either male or female, and dia pronouns na dem. Rae say coming out as non-binary in 2020 and transitioning, bin bring clarity to their identity. "Di moment I hear di word 'non-binary', I know say e fit me," dem tell di BBC. But wit di 2024 Trump victory, Rae feel say di clock don dey tick for dia career. Dem request to transfer from dia West Coast base, to a base closer to family for di east, wey go dey give dem support. Rae, dia wife and daughter move for di middle of school term, as dem hope say dia possible separation from di Navy don dey near. "E bin feel like di safest move for us, in case dem force me to leave di service," Rae tok. Dem add say dem no dey surprise by President Donald Trump executive order in January, or a memorandum from di Department of Defense di following month. Di memo tok say military bases must identify service members wey get or wey dey exhibit symptoms of gender dysphoria. Di final deadlines for pipo to come forward voluntarily na 6 June for active-duty personnel and 7 July for reserve and National Guard members. In May, di Department of Defense say 1,000 service personnel don identify diasef as trans, but dem neva update dat number since den. Di military get 30 days from di deadline to start involuntary separation proceedings. Di memo include a provision for pipo to be considered for a waiver on a case-by-case basis. One of di conditions include say di staff go be pesin wey "neva attempt to transition to any sex oda dan dia sex". By di time dem publish di memorandum, Rae don already take a new post for Maryland, and di family don dey adjust to dia new home. "Watching Rae lose dia career, e dey painful," dia wife, Lindsay, tok. "We dey in survival mode. We neva get time to connect as family. We just dey make hard choices." For Rae, di emotional cost dey high. Dem don decide say dem want more control ova di future, so dem don request to retire from di Navy, and by doing so dem don identify diasef for voluntary separation. Di application neva dey accepted yet, but Rae believe say e go dey accepted. Dem expect di financial implications to be substantial. As dem neva complete 20 years of service, Rae says dem fit forfeit eligibility for a military pension. Dem estimate say pension payments fit add up to about $2.5m ova di course of dia retirement. A legal and political battle Even though di Department of Defense say di ban go maintain consistent medical and readiness standards across di forces, opponents, argue say di policy dey target a vulnerable group unfairly. Three lawsuits don dey filed for court to challeng di legality. For one high-profile ruling, one federal judge bin block di ban temporarily, sake of concerns of weda e dey constitutional and suggest say e dey discriminate based on gender identity. However, for April, di Supreme Court lift di injunction, allowing di policy to move forward as litigation continues. Di legal back-and-forth don leave transgender service members for limbo. Job hunting for di civilian sector don dey tough for Rae. "I bin apply for one position wey get ova 800 applicants for one day," they tok, adding say civilian life go offer less security dan di Navy. "E dey competitive and daunting out dia." But dem say di next chapter na about not feeling "unda threat for who I be". Looking ahead Kara no self-identify by di 6 June deadline, so she dey wait now to see if di military go flag her for separation - di 30-day window mean say dat one suppose happen by 6 July. She go see wetin unfold from dia. Di US Department of Defense no gree give statement to di BBC but dem point to previous statements wey say dem dey committed to treating all service members wey di policy impact wit dignity and respect. One US defence official say di "characterization of service go dey honorable except wia di record of di service member otherwise warrant a lower characterization". For now Kara remain for her base for Fort Leavenworth but she dey prepared to leave wit little notice if she gatz to. She don turn her car into a mobile home wit one big power bank, cooking equipment, and a fold-out mattress. "On top I also get eight-gallon water tank. I fill am up, pump am wit air compressor, and I fit take shower out in di wild. At least I get somewia to live." Wen she graduate from di leadership programme wit distinction, after complying wit di male uniform and grooming standards, she say e bin "mean a lot, but how I take do am bin feel like say I dey erase my identity". "Dis na about pipo who don dedicate dia lives to service, now dem dey tell dem say dem no longer dey fit, not bicos of performance, but bicos of who dem be."
BreakingNews.ie
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