20-Year-Old Wess Roley Identified as Suspect in Idaho Firefighter Ambush That Left 2 Dead, 1 Injured
- On Sunday, two firefighters from Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County were fatally shot and a third was wounded while responding to a wildfire near Canfield Mountain, Idaho.
- Authorities believe 20-year-old Wess Roley deliberately started the fire to lure firefighters into an ambush and opened fire on them from the woods.
- Law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect during an hours-long standoff involving over 300 officers and two sniper helicopters before finding Roley's body near the scene.
- Governor Brad Little called the ambush a 'heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters' and ordered flags flown at half-staff, while senators held a moment of silence for the fallen.
- The incident drew statewide mourning and calls to support public safety personnel, with investigations ongoing regarding the motive and circumstances of Roley's death.
140 Articles
140 Articles
Idaho wildfire gunman identified as 20-year-old Wess Val Roley
Authorities have identified the gunman who opened fire on first responders during a wildfire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The shooting left two firefighters dead and a third seriously injured. At a press briefing on Monday, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris identified the gunman as 20-year-old Wess Val Roley, a California native with no known criminal history. Sheriff Norris said local law enforcement had five prior interactions with him, includ…
Suspect who targeted fire service in 'ambush' shooting named as aspiring firefighter
Wess Val Roley, 20, is suspected of having intentionally started a fire in a "total ambush" to kill firefighters. Two firefighters died while one was injured in the barrage of gunfire in Idaho on Sunday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium