Latest news with #WessValRoley
Telegraph
2 days 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'.
Cedar News
2 days ago
- Cedar News
Wess Val Roley May Have Been Rejected from Firefighting Job Because of His Height
The 20-year-old suspected of fatally shooting two firefighters and injuring a third in northern Idaho had long dreamed of joining the fire service himself — but may have been turned down due to his height, according to his grandfather. Wess Val Roley, described by relatives as someone who 'idolized' firefighters and respected law enforcement, allegedly ambushed first responders on Sunday after deliberately setting a fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene. 'He actually really respected law enforcement,' said his grandfather, Dale Roley, in an interview with NBC News. 'He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters… Maybe he got rejected or something. His height might have had something to do with it.' Standing 5-foot-8, Roley had reportedly inquired about joining a fire department but may have been denied the opportunity — a detail that could shed light on his motive, though investigators have yet to confirm any connection. Officials say Roley lit a bush on fire and then opened fire on arriving firefighters, killing two and wounding a third. The suspect later died from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His van, found nearby, appeared to be his home. Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris called the attack a 'total ambush,' stating the firefighters 'did not have a chance.' He confirmed that Roley had expressed interest in firefighting and released a disturbing photo of the suspect wearing a balaclava and ammunition belt, which was shared on his social media prior to the attack. Police also confirmed Roley had no criminal record, though he had been subject to welfare checks and a minor trespassing incident in the past. His grandfather described him as 'nervous,' 'high strung,' and 'a bit of a loner,' but thought these were 'normal issues for kids these days.' The fire Roley allegedly started, known as the Nettleton Gulch Fire, has spread across approximately 20 acres. Firefighters were still battling the blaze into Monday. Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, but confirmed one was from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department and the other from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue. The third firefighter, initially in critical condition, is now reported to be stable.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Two firefighters killed after asking man to move his car
Why you can trust Sky News A gunman suspected of having started a fire to "ambush" firefighters in Idaho and kill them has been named as Wess Val Roley. The 20-year-old is said to have aspired to become a firefighter before the attack on Sunday, which saw him allegedly perched in a sniper position, firing at the firefighters as they sought to put out a fire, which authorities believe he intentionally started. Two firefighters were killed and one was injured as they came under gunfire over several hours, according to authorities. They said the incident took place after they asked him to move his vehicle. Roley was later found dead in the mountains with a firearm nearby. Sky News' US partner network NBC quoted Roley's grandfather,Dale Roley, as saying "something must have snapped" in his grandson for him to commit such violence. "He actually really respected law enforcement," Mr Roley said. "He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something." Mr Roley added: "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." Bob Norris, the sheriff of Kootenai County, said on Sunday: "We do believe that the suspect started the fire. "This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance." Officers said they were "taking sniper fire" near the city of Coeur d'Alene on Sunday afternoon, with crews responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain. Mr Norris said the gunman had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders. The ambush continued for several hours. More than 300 officers from city, county, state and federal levels responded. Two helicopters were deployed with snipers onboard. First responders could be heard making urgent calls for help on their radios. "Everybody's shot up here... send law enforcement now," one dispatch said. Later, the sheriff's office said members of a SWAT team "located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain", adding that a "firearm was found nearby".
Sky News
3 days ago
- Sky News
Suspect who targeted fire service in 'ambush' shooting named as aspiring firefighter
A gunman suspected of having started a fire to "ambush" firefighters in Idaho and kill them has been named as Wess Val Roley. The 20-year-old is said to have aspired to become a firefighter before the attack on Sunday, which saw him allegedly perched in a sniper position, firing at the firefighters as they sought to put out a fire, which authorities believe he intentionally started. Two firefighters were killed and one was injured as they came under gunfire over several hours, according to authorities. They said the incident took place after they asked him to move his vehicle. Roley was later found dead in the mountains with a firearm nearby. Sky News' US partner network NBC quoted Roley's grandfather,Dale Roley, as saying "something must have snapped" in his grandson for him to commit such violence. "He actually really respected law enforcement," Mr Roley said. "He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something." Mr Roley added: "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." Bob Norris, the sheriff of Kootenai County, said on Sunday: "We do believe that the suspect started the fire. "This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance." Officers said they were "taking sniper fire" near the city of Coeur d'Alene on Sunday afternoon, with crews responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain. Mr Norris said the gunman had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders. The ambush continued for several hours. More than 300 officers from city, county, state and federal levels responded. Two helicopters were deployed with snipers onboard. First responders could be heard making urgent calls for help on their radios. "Everybody's shot up here... send law enforcement now," one dispatch said. Later, the sheriff's office said members of a SWAT team "located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain", adding that a "firearm was found nearby".
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Idaho sniper's terrifying social media revealed as grandpa hints at vain reason he launched firefighter ambush
The 20-year-old suspected of shooting two firemen dead in Idaho dreamed of joining the fire department himself and may have been rejected, his relatives have revealed. Wess Val 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 after lighting a bush on fire and ambushing the first responders. 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 Roley wearing a balaclava with a coal-like substance smeared on his face. 'He actually really respected law enforcement,' the alleged shooter's grandfather, Dale Roley, told NBC News. 'He loved firefighters. It didn't make sense that he was shooting firefighters. '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 idolized. 'Maybe he got rejected or something,' the stunned grandfather said, adding that his height might have prevented him from joining the department. Officials said preliminary information indicates the suspect acted alone in the shooting, and detectives have not yet identified a motive. The suspect's grandfather added that he worked at a tree service and had tree-climbing skills needed to help with tackling wildfires. He was also trained in using firearms, and used to venture out on hog hunts. Roley's grandfather said that he often appeared 'nervous', 'high strung' and 'kind of a loner', but he felt these were 'normal issues for kids these days'. 'I feel real terrible for those killed,' the grandfather said. Sheriff Norris described the attack as a 'total ambush'. 'These firefighters did not have a chance,' he said. During a press update on Monday evening, he gave additional information about Roley, including that officials believe he had been living in a van, which was found close to the fire. We still have the suspect's vehicle down an embankment of the mountain,' Norris said. 'Deputies who responded on scene thought it would be in their best interest to get rid of what they thought was Roley's vehicle. 'They pushed it over the side so that he couldn't get in it and flee.' 'It did appear that he was living in the vehicle,' he added. 'There was a lot of debris that was in the vehicle (but) we have not verified or found any manifesto, or done an inventory of that vehicle. The Nettleton Gulch Fire allegedly started by Roley spread around 20 acres over Canfield Mountain overnight, and firefighters were still tackling the blaze on Monday. Officials have not yet named the firefighters who died, but said one was from Coeur d'Alene Fire Department and another from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue. A third was left 'fighting for his life' after being struck and rushed to surgery, but he is now in a stable condition. Harrowing fire department scanner calls revealed the terror the first responders faced as they arrived on the scene. 'Send law enforcement right now! There's an active shooter zone,' one firefighter could be heard crying out. 'Everybody's shot up here!' the firefighter continued, noting that two battalion chiefs were 'down' and he was 'pinned.' He was later heard warning his fellow firefighters, 'Stop. Do not come up here.' 'It's clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in,' the firefighter said. Another firefighter was later heard telling dispatch he had 'no idea where the shooters [are] at or where they're going in, in which direction'. 'I would recommend that our units, all of our firing units, escape further down the pavement towards town, maybe a half a mile or so to a safe staging area,' he said. He urged dispatchers to send 'multiple ambulances' to the scene. 'As soon as we get law enforcement in here to get these people out, I recommend we get no less than five... ambulances staged at the bottom,' the desperate caller said. 'I don't care where we get them from.' The firefighters were ultimately forced to pull back, with Northern Lakes Fire District Chief Pat Riley saying he would not be deploying any more crew members until the threat was neutralized. Meanwhile, the blaze continued to grow to cover 20 acres and the gunman kept shooting. When Fire Chief Riley got the news of the ambush, he said he 'was completely heartbroken.' 'We trained for this,' he said. 'You never want to see it in your own community.' Life Flight helicopters were deployed to the scene, and photos and videos posted online showed a large police presence in the surrounding area. By around 4.30pm, Sheriff Norris gave law enforcement the authority to shoot to kill the gunman if they were given the opportunity. He even deployed two helicopters with snipers to take out the gunman. 'I am hoping someone has a clear shot, they are not showing any signs of wanting to surrender,' Norris said of the shooter at an earlier news conference. It is now believed the deceased gunman was the only shooter in the attack 'based on the trajectory [of the bullets] and based on the type of weapons that this individual had that we could recover,' Norris said. He explained that it is likely the gunman was running as he fired, as he announced 'there is no threat to the community at this time.' The suspect's motive for the shooting remains unclear. An investigation into the shooting will continue on Monday, when Norris said he expects to find more weapons that were left at the scene. Idaho Gov. Brad Little called the attack a 'heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. 'I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more,' he said, adding that he and his wife are 'heartbroken' by the news. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also said her department was monitoring the situation. 'Pray for Idaho's first responders,' she wrote on X. 'Justice will be served.'
