Latest news with #KootenaiCountyFire
Yahoo
2 days 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.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Wess Roley's family breaks silence as firefighters killed in Idaho sniper's deadly ambush are identified
Idaho firefighter killer Wess Roley's family have spoken out, offering condolences for the three victims who have now been identified, including one still fighting for his life. The update on the victims came as Roley's family expressed their grief and sorrow for those the 20-year-old hurt after lighting a bush on fire and ambushing the first responders. '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,' Roley's family told The New York Post through an attorney. '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,' they continued. 'Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well.' They also noted that they will cooperate fully with the investigation while they 'deal with the grief of this heinous tragedy in our own family.' Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, were named as the two men allegedly killed by Roley. Harwood - an ex-Army National Guard combat engineer - had served the county for 17 years and leaves behind a wife and two children, said Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way. Morrison served the town of Coeur d'Alene for over 28 years, Chief Tom Grief said. Dave Tysdal, 47, was the third firefighter hit and is currently in hospital in critical condition. He has been an engineer for the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department for 23 years. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. 'We thank everyone for their love and support,' the family said in a statement. 'Dave is surrounded by his family, and he is able to open his eyes and the two surgeries have gone well.' It was revealed earlier Monday Roley might have been turned down for a firefighting job because of his height, his grandfather has speculated in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Roley, who was 5-foot-8, is believed to have fatally shot two firefighters and wounded a third on Sunday. He allegedly launched a barrage of gunfire over several hours around 1.30pm at Canfield Mountain, close to the town of Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. Roley was found dead beside a gun almost six hours later. Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said officials believe he shot himself. Norris also confirmed his department 'had information' that Roley wanted to be a firefighter, and shared a terrifying image of the suspect from his social media. The photograph, shared on Instagram stories, shows California-born Roley wearing a balaclava with a coal-like substance smeared on his face, as well as a belt of rifle shells. He also shared a Bjork song hours before the shooting that included a warning in its lyrics: 'I'm going hunting.'
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Watch Live: Idaho police release new details on ambush shooting that killed 2 firefighters
Law enforcement authorities in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, are holding a news conference to share the latest on their investigation after a suspect allegedly ambushed firefighters on the job, killing two of them and critically injuring a third. The firefighters were responding to the Nettleton Gulch Fire on Sunday afternoon in a popular recreation area at Canfield Mountain when a gunman perched in a sniper position began firing at them, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said. The sheriff said he believes the suspect started the fire to lure the firefighters there. "And we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional. These firefighters did not have a chance," Norris said Sunday. Two firefighters were killed by a shooter in ambush while responding to fire in Idaho. Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images The victims have not yet been identified. The Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Office is expected to hold a separate news conference at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) to share more details. The wounded firefighter was "fighting for his life" after surgery but was in stable condition, Norris said. Two law enforcement sources previously told CBS News that authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Wess Roley. The motive behind the ambush is also under investigation as authorities look for evidence left behind by the suspect. The suspect's body was found at the scene of the fire late Sunday night along with a firearm, the sheriff said. Gunfire had been exchanged with the suspect, and it was unclear whether he'd shot himself, authorities said. According to a Facebook post by his mother, Roley moved from Arizona to Idaho when he turned 18 in 2023 to work for his father's tree-cutting company. In an update shared in October 2024, his mother wrote he was "doing great living in Idaho." In a phone interview with CBS News, Dale Roley, the paternal grandfather of Wess Roley, said he learned from news reports and other family members about his grandson's alleged role. He described Wess as "pretty much a normal kid" and said the family is hoping he wasn't involved. He said his grandson had recently lost his cellphone and did not have a "high-powered rifle." "He had a .22 long rifle and a shotgun," he said. "That's not a high-powered rifle by any stretch. We're just hoping there's some weird circumstances and Wess wasn't actually involved." Dale Roley confirmed that Wess had worked for his father's tree company, but more recently was working at a different tree company in Coeur d'Alene. He said his grandson "wanted to be a fireman" and applied for a job with the forestry service four or five months ago. He offered his condolences to the families of the firefighters who were killed. As of Monday afternoon, the Nettleton Gulch Fire has spread to approximately 26 acres, the Idaho Department of Lands said in a statement. No evacuations have been ordered and no structures are at risk, the agency said, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. contributed to this report.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
Multiple firefighters shot responding to blaze in Idaho, authorities say
Multiple firefighters were ambushed by a gunman in northern Idaho as they responded to reports of a blaze Sunday afternoon, according to a local fire chief and Gov. Brad Little (R). The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District were met with gunfire in an 'ambush style attack' upon responding to a wildlife vegetation fire on Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking area in Coeur d'Alene, said fire chief Pat Riley, of the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District.
