More details released about shooter who killed 2 Idaho firefighters battling planted wildfire

Two Idaho firefighters were shot and killed by a sniper while battling a wildfire in the northern part of the state, authorities confirmed Sunday evening.

One additional firefighter was injured in the shooting. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office stated he is “fighting for his life” but is in stable condition, as of this reporting. The injured firefighter has since been discharged from the hospital after having two successful surgeries.

A man was found dead hours later, with a firearm nearby. It was later confirmed that he was the shooter, and that he ended his own life. Law enforcement found the shooter’s body using cellphone location data.

Authorities believe the shooter deliberately started the fire that crews initially responded to in order to draw out the firefighters.

Identity of the shooter, firefighters

A shelter-in-place was active in the hours between the shooting at Coeur d’Alene and the discovery of the shooter’s body on Canfield Mountain. The shooter has been identified as a 20-year-old transient named Wess Roley, according to The Associated Press and CBS News.

“While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF [International Association of Fire Fighters] members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence,” IAFF stated, according to CBS News. “Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery. Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.”

Roley shot the firefighters after they allegedly asked him to move his vehicle. He appeared to be living inside his car.

“We have not been able to find a manifesto,” Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said, adding that a motive for the attack is still unknown.

Norris confirmed in a press conference that Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deputies and Coeur d’Alene police have had five different interactions with Roley. Each interaction was due to a minor incident, including trespassing and welfare checks.

Sheriff Norris also confirmed, through the ongoing investigation, that Roley had wanted to be a firefighter in the past. Roley grew up in an arborist family and has experience climbing trees, and allegedly fired on deputies from a tree during the shooting.

Roley, who has ties to California and Arizona, lived with T.J. Franks Jr. for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, while working for a tree service, Franks told The Associated Press Monday. Franks had cameras in his apartment that caught Roley throwing gang signs at them one day, which worried Franks to the point that he called police.

“I didn’t know what to really think about it,” Franks said. “I just called the cops and had them talk to him.”

The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roley’s vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle.

Franks said Roley “started acting a little weird” and at one point shaved his long hair off completely.

“We just kind of noticed him starting to decline or kind of go downhill,” he said.

Roley’s social media accounts have been wiped of information.

One of the slain firefighters, Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, worked at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue for 17 years. Harwood was married and had two children, according to The Associated Press, and was also a veteran of the Army National Guard.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, was also killed after working with the department for 28 years. The wounded firefighter, Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, was also a member of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

“This was a total ambush,” Norris said at a briefing late Sunday, according to USA Today. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”

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. pic.twitter.com/hUtZbyt3bF

— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) June 30, 2025

The FBI was called in to assist with local law enforcement.

Fire grew as firefighters forced to retreat

Firefighters were initially called to respond to a brush fire near East Nettleton Gulch Road when the shooting started. Fire crews were forced to retreat once the shooting broke out, and weren’t able to tend to the flames for approximately six hours. The fire grew to 15-20 acres in size before firefighters were able to return and extinguish it.

“My immediate reaction was completely heartbroken,” Northern Lakes Fire Protection District Chief Pat Riley said. “We trained for this. You never want to see it in your own community.”

Despite the active threat, Riley said firefighters are remaining focused.

He also noted that, at this time, evacuations are not expected. However, residents in the area are advised to remain vigilant and to follow any instructions from law enforcement as the situation continues to develop.

The fire allegedly started by Roley grew to 26 acres. Firefighters have made slow progress fighting it, citing difficult terrain as the reason. No structures have been affected, as of this reporting.

Norries claimed Roley was in possession of a flint starter, which is how the fire began.

Deputies have asked the public to avoid East Nettleton Gulch Road and the surrounding area near Canfield Mountain.

“It’s heartbreaking. Two firefighters lost their lives protecting the community. It is super tragic and devastating,” Kelly Radford, a manager of the Bennett Bay Inn in Coeur d’Alene, told KIRO Newsradio. “From my understanding, the shooter started the fire on purpose and lured them there and then ambushed them. I don’t know what the shooter’s heart looks like or why they did that, but it’s pretty sad. Just very sad.”

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest; KIRO 7; The Associated Press