Former Classmates Say Idaho Shooter Was “Obsessed With Guns” and Drew Swastikas—But His Family’s Statement and Photos Tell a Very Different Story

The man behind the shocking sniper ambush that killed two firefighters and injured another in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, has now been identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley—and the narrative around him is already being pulled in two very different directions.

According to multiple former classmates speaking to local media, Roley was “obsessed with guns,” often drawing disturbing imagery—including reported swastikas—on his school materials. One classmate told a Spokane outlet that he was “quiet but angry” and seemed fixated on “military gear and sniper rifles.” Another recalled that Roley had once been suspended for bringing ammo to school in middle school, though the school district has not confirmed this.

But Roley’s family is pushing back hard.

In a statement released Sunday night, Roley’s parents described their son as “a quiet young man who loved the outdoors, music, and taking care of his grandparents’ property.” They said he was “struggling with mental health but had no history of violence” and was “deeply impacted by the isolation of the pandemic.”
Here are the two photos we saw from the mainstream media:

Family photos shared on social media show Wess as a baby-faced teen too gentle to do such a crime!
His uncle described the media’s early portrayal of Wess as “character assassination,” claiming they’re “desperately trying to explain a tragedy they don’t understand.”

Photos below:

Still, questions remain about how a 20-year-old ended up with a high-powered rifle, used it to start a wildfire, and executed what Sheriff Bob Norris called a “deliberate ambush” on first responders.

As the FBI and ATF continue their investigation, the public is left grappling with a disturbing question: Was Wess Roley a ticking time bomb everyone ignored—or another broken young man failed by a system too distracted to notice?

Opinion disclaimer: This article includes commentary and opinion protected by the First Amendment.

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