Authorities have identified the suspect who fatally ambushed a team of firefighters in northern Idaho Sunday afternoon as 20-year-old Wess Roley, who was later found dead near the scene.
The attack unfolded around 2 p.m. on Canfield Mountain, where firefighters arrived to contain a brush fire. Investigators believe Roley intentionally ignited the fire to lure first responders into an ambush.
“I’m pinned down,” one firefighter said in an emergency call, according to the New York Post. “It’s clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.”
Armed and hidden in a sniper’s perch, Roley opened fire as the crew arrived. Two firefighters were killed during the hours-long standoff before law enforcement secured the area. A third remains in stable condition after emergency surgery. Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, are assisting local authorities in the investigation. Officials have not yet confirmed whether Roley committed suicide or was killed by police during the shootout.
Though a formal motive has not been announced, social media users have raised concerns about Roley’s online history and criminal record.
According to a 2024 court record cited by investigative journalist Sarah Fields, Roley was convicted of misdemeanor assault after attacking a woman with a knife. He served a partially suspended 180-day sentence and was ordered to undergo mental health treatment.
Fields also reported that Roley’s social media accounts contained “disturbing content” targeting authority figures.
“He posted about his disdain for authority figures, including police and firefighters, and expressed radical views,” Fields wrote on X. “His posts included threats and general hostility toward society, which raised concerns among those who followed him. Additionally, he was known to have made threats against his family, leading to a no-contact order being issued against him.”
This is a developing story.
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Author: Elise DeGeeter
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