Authorities have identified 20-year-old Wess Roley as the individual who ambushed and killed two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, during a tragic incident that unfolded Sunday, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Roley reportedly set a brushfire to lure emergency responders before opening fire from the woods in what officials have described as a calculated and deadly ambush.
The firefight resulted in the deaths of two firefighters, while a third was seriously injured and remains in stable condition. The fire, which has now spread over 26 acres, remains active as crews continue working to contain it.
R.I.P. — Firefighters killed in Idaho ambush identified as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, of Northern Lakes Fire Dept., & Coeur d’Alene Fire Dept. Battalion Chief John Morrison pic.twitter.com/yshmi5zUAY [2]
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 30, 2025 [3]
Roley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following an hours-long manhunt that drew a response from approximately 300 law enforcement officers. His body was discovered in the wooded area where he launched the attack.
On Monday, Roley’s family issued a statement through attorney Justin Whittenton, expressing condolences to the victims and the Coeur d’Alene community.
“There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting,” the family stated [4]. “We do not understand why this happened or how this came about.”
The statement continued, “Our hearts and spirits are broken for the lost and hurting, and for our own loss as well.” The family added that they intend to fully cooperate with investigators.
Officials say Roley had no known criminal record in Idaho or in his previous states of residence, California and Arizona.
Coeur d’Alene police stated that Roley had multiple minor interactions with law enforcement since arriving in the area in 2024, primarily involving welfare checks and trespassing reports. At the time of the shooting, he was believed to be living out of his car.
Investigators confirmed that there is no indication the attack was connected to terrorism. Roley reportedly spoke to firefighters about his vehicle before the shooting began, though a clear motive for the ambush has yet to be identified.
Court records reviewed by CNN show that Roley’s childhood included a contentious divorce between his parents in 2015 when he was 10 years old. According to those documents, his father was accused of threatening to start a fire and shoot his mother — allegations he has denied.
Roley’s grandfather said that the young man [5] had dreams of becoming a firefighter himself and had possibly moved to Idaho to pursue that path.
turns out the firefighter shooting wasn’t random
the family believes Wess Roley snapped after he was rejected from becoming a Firefighter, which was his life’s goal. pic.twitter.com/LxEEUNKe86 [6]
— MR. OBVIOUS (@ObviousRises) June 30, 2025 [7]
Local and federal agencies continue to investigate the incident, while the firefighting community in Coeur d’Alene and across the region mourns the loss of two of its own.