Latest news with #CanfieldMountain
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Probe into Idaho firefighter ambush suspect digging into childhood, gun familiarity
As the investigation into the deadly firefighter ambush in Idaho over the weekend continues, police are still trying to piece together why suspect Wess Roley allegedly instigated the attack, a source familiar told ABC News. Law enforcement officials identified Roley as the suspected gunman after he was found dead on Canfield Mountain with a shotgun nearby. Two firefighters were killed -- Frank Harwood, 42, a battalion chief with the Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Department and John Morrison, 52, battalion chief of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department -- and another firefighter, Dave Tysdal, of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, was injured while responding to the brush fire, which officials believe Roley purposely started before the ambush. MORE: Suspect in deadly Idaho ambush previously wanted to be a firefighter: Sheriff Part of the investigation into Roley's background is focusing on his childhood in Arizona, where he lived with his mother and stepfather, the sources said. Authorities have spoken with some of Roley's immediate family, though it's unclear what they've said, the source added. Police in Idaho have publicly stated that they believe Roley acted alone and that they don't believe the attack on firefighters had any connection to terrorism. The source familiar with the investigation, however, said that authorities learned Roley grew up with a family that had firearms and felt comfortable handling them. The source said Roley's stepfather lawfully possessed many firearms. Photos posted to the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Roley's mother and stepfather, reviewed by ABC News, reflect that familiarity with firearms. Nearly half of Arizona residents own firearms, according to Everytown Research and Policy. MORE: Grandfather of suspect in deadly Idaho firefighter ambush speaks out In an interview with ABC News on Tuesday, a former classmate of Roley's said that while the alleged sniper was always "really different," he still has "a hard time trying to correlate the same Wess that I grew up with to the Wess that did what he did." "I don't know why he did it, and it's -- it's shocking to me," said the former classmate Dieter, who didn't want his last name used publicly. "It's something that villains do, plain and simple." Dieter described Wess Roley as someone who was unusually outspoken in the strident ways he would defend his views. Dieter claimed Roley was someone who talked about Nazism, who was "very pro-gun," who spoke of wanting to join the military, who would often make drawings of bombs and military vehicles and who allegedly got in trouble once for drawing swastikas in a textbook. Roley would also say "awful things" related to the border crisis, Dieter said. Dieter said he and his friends would brush off all the comments as "Wess just being Wess," trying to say outlandish things to be "edgy" and stand out. Dieter said Roley never spoke much about his family or his background, except he allegedly often claimed to have been born in Germany and to be more German and "more patriotic" than others. MORE: Bryan Kohberger agrees to plead guilty to all counts in Idaho college murders case: Letter from prosecutors According to Dieter, he and Wess were "never close," but they were part of the same friend group -- going to school together in the Phoenix area beginning in late elementary school and continuing until sophomore year of high school, when Dieter moved to Colorado. During their freshman year of high school, however, Dieter claimed Roley "definitely was becoming more kind of unhinged in what he would say... and what he thought was right." Roley's family's attorney, Justin P. Whittenton, shared a statement on behalf of the family on Monday, saying they "intend to fully cooperate with authorities in seeking answers." "At this time, we, the family of Wess Roley would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families of those whose lives were taken and to the community of Coeur d'Alene at large," the family said in the statement. "There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting. We do not understand why this happened or how this came about," the family added. ABC News has reached out to Roley's mother and stepfather for further comment, but did not immediately hear back.
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- The Guardian
Idaho community reeling after suspect in shooting of firefighters identified
Authorities have identified the suspect in the shooting death of two firefighters in Idaho as 20 year-old Wess Roley, who was later found dead at the scene. He is believe to have shot the firefighters who were battling a blaze he started after they asked him to move his vehicle, killing two of them and wounding a third. Fire crews, meanwhile, remained at the scene battling to contain flames still scorching Canfield Mountain
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Photos at Canfield Mountain, Idaho, where firefighters came under deadly attack
Smoke continued to fill the air at Canfield Mountain after a shooter killed firefighters responding to a wildfire in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. The town held a procession in honor of the two crew members who died. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Suspect Identified In Idaho Firefighter Ambush That Left 2 Dead And 1 injured
The man who fatally shot two firefighters and wounded a third while crews responded to a blazing wildfire in a northern Idaho mountain community was identified by authorities on Monday as Wess Roley. Roley, 20, deliberately set a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, near Coeur d'Alene, on Sunday to lure first responders into a brutal ambush, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris. Sheriff's officials said crews responded to the fire around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. After a flurry of gunfire over several hours, during which the FBI responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, according to hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. Two of the victims were dead on arrival, and the third was stable but 'fighting for his life' following surgery, she said. Officials identified the fatally shot firefighters as Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52. The wounded firefighter was named as Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, and officials said he was in critical condition on Monday. The Associated Press reported that Roley's body was discovered with a gun in the area nearly six hours after the attack began. Investigators said Roley acted alone in the incident. Officials said that officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but it is unclear if Roley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if authorities fatally shot him. Some of the suspect's family members expressed disbelief over the incident, with Roley's grandfather telling NBC News that 'something must have snapped' for his grandson to have unleashed such a vile attack on first responders. 'He actually really respected law enforcement,' Dale Roley told NBC News. 'He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something.' Authorities have not yet declared a motive in the shooting. After a shelter-in-place order was lifted from the area on Sunday, the sheriff's office warned residents to stay alert and prepared as the fire continued burning. Idaho Gov. Brad Little called the ambush a 'heinous act of violence' while paying tribute to the firefighters in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. 'The entire State of Idaho grieves the profound loss of the firefighters killed in the shocking ambush in North Idaho,' Little wrote. '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.' The entire State of Idaho grieves the profound loss of the firefighters killed in the shocking ambush in North Idaho. I have ordered flags to fly at half-staff effective immediately. Please join Teresa and me as we continue to pray for the victims and their loved ones. — Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) June 30, 2025 Little added: 'This is not Idaho. This indescribable loss is felt deeply by all those in the firefighting community and beyond.' Gunman Started Idaho Blaze And Then Fatally Shot 2 Firefighters In Ambush Attack: Officials Death Penalty Remains On Table In Idaho Murders Trial Despite Suspect's Autism Diagnosis 6 Men Charged After Woman Was Dragged Out Of Chaotic Idaho Town Hall Meeting
SBS Australia
a day ago
- SBS Australia
Authorities search for a motive after deadly ambush of US firefighters
WARNING: THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME LISTENERS "Lots of sirens. Things are happening." It was supposed to be an ordinary day for firefighters in the US state of Idaho, who had come to tackle a blaze on Canfield Mountain, an area popular with hikers near the city of Coeur d'Alene. Coeur d'Alene is a picturesque city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington state, and the mountain is covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails that lead into a national forest. But it quickly became a horror scene. About 300 law enforcement officers were deployed to the Mountain as a siege unfolded, including technical and tactical teams from the FBI. "Someone get here right now, there's an active shooter zone. They're shot - BC1's down, BC-3's down. Everyone's shot up here." Idaho governor Brad Little - and Kootenai County's Sheriff Robert Norris - says multiple firefighters were attacked with a barrage of gunfire over several hours in what he called a "heinous" assault. The shootings left two firefighters dead. "We got the first call at 1.21 and we have reports that they were taking shots at about 2 o'clock. I don't know what time they arrived on scene. I don't know what time the firefighters arrived on scene... Oh no, we're taking rapid fire." When it was all over, US authorities found the body of a man who was quickly identified as the person suspected of being responsible for shooting at the fire crew. A law enforcement official has identified the suspect as 20-year-old Wess Roley. His grandfather, Dale Roley, told CNN that he had worked as an arborist and wanted to be a firefighter. He says they had no reasons to believe he would be involved in a situation like this. The Sheriff says they believe the gunman was the only shooter involved. "Based on the preliminary information, we believe that is the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time. So there is no threat to the community at this time." 911 calls from the scene also make it clear the man was also suspected of starting the blaze that brought the fire crews to the mountain. "It's clear to me that this fire was intentional to draw us in." A third firefighter was badly wounded in the ambush. Sheriff Norris says that person has been taken to hospital. 'We did lose a Coeur d'Alene firefighter, and we did lose a firefighter from the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. We have another firefighter that just came out of surgery from the Coeur d'Alene fire department.... He just came out of surgery. He is fighting for his life, but is in stable condition.' The motive for the shooting is not known. But it's raised questions once again about serious gun violence which is common across the United States, where many states have few barriers to the purchasing of firearms, despite widespread support for greater gun control. The Gun Violence Archive group says there have been 189 mass shootings in the United States this year, which it defines as four or more people shot. Meanwhile, back in Idaho, firefighters are back at the scene of the blaze where the attack happened. It has scorched about 10 hectares but no structures have been damaged, Residents are being advised to be prepared to take further action if required.
